Forbidden Broadway Comes Out Swinging
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Cititour.com Review
Fans of everything and everyone on the Great White Way may feel a little punchdrunk after seeing “Forbidden Broadway Comes Out Swinging,” the latest edition of Gerard Alessandrini’s not-so-gently satirical revue, now at the Davenport Theatre. For 95 minutes, little of the Great White Way escapes his wrath, from beloved stage icons to blockbuster shows. And when you’re not cringing, you’ll definitely be laughing loudly, even if Alessandrini doesn’t score a knockout every time.
Indeed, even though this talented cast of four – Carter Calvert, Scott Richard Foster, Mia Gentile, and Marcus Stevens – aren’t quite as gifted as mimickry as such celebrated “Forbidden Broadway” alums as Christine Pedi and Christina Bianco, the show’s strongest segments take unerring aim at celebrities such as nasal-voiced Fran Drescher, iron-lunged Idina Menzel, country twanger Carrie Underwood, the indestructible Liza Minnelli, and, especially, the vocally dexterous Mandy Patinkin (superbly embodied by Stevens).
That isn’t to say that Alessandrini has lost his peerless gift of parodying shows – or at least targeting their weakest or strangest elements. An opening sequence in which the cast of “Pippin” sing “Damage to Do” is spot-on in reminding us just how hard everyone in that tuner works to entertain the crowd. The “Bridges of Madison County” segment includes a hilarious commentary on just how un-sexy the show actually is; the “Rocky” bit focuses squarely on the strange inclusion on the song “Eye of the Tiger” (which is actually from the movie “Rocky III”); and “Bullets Over Broadway” is lambasted for its lack of original score.
An extended “Les Miserables” parody hits on a lot of cylinders, although nothing made me guffaw harder than its commentary on the use of projections instead of sets for the current revival, and the “Once” segment (one of the few holdovers from a previous edition) is still beyond brilliant, especially as its stars complain about having to double as the show’s orchestra.
Hover, Alessandrini’s constant preaching that audiences don’t appreciate “new” shows, not mention his unceasing attacks on Disney and his dislike of so-called “jukebox musicals,” are getting really tiresome. And he does come off as a bit of a fuddy-duddy in his constant carping about what he perceives as the increasing vulgarity of Broadway. Sorry, Gerald. It’s 2014. If you can’t stand the F-word, get out of the theater.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://www.forbiddenbroadway.com
Cast
Carter Calvert, Scott Richard Foster, Mia Gentile and Marcus Stevens, with David Caldwell on piano
Open/Close Dates
Opening 5/4/2014
Closing 7/20/2014
Theatre Info
Davenport Theatre
354 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
Map
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