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RE:FAR OUT at the Fringe Fest - 1:22PM on 8/25/2009
I am a theatergoer that attends many performances at the Fringe Festival each year. I always enjoy having the opportunity to view a variety of new works. Having seen the Saturday 8/22 performance of FAR OUT, I would like to offer my opinion.
Given the technical limitations productions face in a festival situation, the cast and creative team of FAR OUT redeem themselves admirably. While probably the first professional staging of the musical, the creators now have the opportunity to see what does and doesnt work. Does anyone remember URINETOWN at the Fringe?
The score, which does sound slightly familiar, is much more fun and enjoyable than some of Sir Lloyd Webbers more derivative projects for which he won TONYs. Brian Taylor leads four other musicians in a band that truly rocks out.
The book has some problems which mostly appear in the second act. Given the fact that FAR OUT is a satirical piece poking fun at films whose stories seldom made any sense, it is obvious to me the book writer is perhaps poking fun at the ridiculous, plot-free 1950’s sci-fi movies this musical spoofs. In addition, a “spoof” of a genre does not have to be camp.
The entire cast is truly wonderful. We all went to high school with these stereotypes and recognize the characters. Spencer Liffs Milton is loveable, fully shaded and beautifully performed. Liff, who I have seen mainly as a dancer in several Broadway shows, proves that he is the real deal. He truly can do it all: act, sing and dance.
Nick Adams Jeff is the perfect bad guy. He embodies the right amount of fun, menace and camp without crossing the line and going too far. Adams, known as having the best biceps on Broadway, manages to completely utilize his physical assets while doing so with a wink and a nod. Adams shows he is much more than a pretty face.
Speaking of pretty faces, Tiffan Borelli, as Sondra, is remarkable. She manages the perfect contrast to both Liff and Adams and serves as the grounding character to the entire story. Her voice is strong and gorgeous; her acting, wonderfully natural in a heightened, musical theater reality style. It is Borelli and Liff’s performances and marvelous chemistry that carry the awkward scenes in act two.
Marcie Henderson as the Supreme Leader and Timothy Warmen as Axelrod and Gilroy both give incredible performances; sometimes warm and human and other times insane and deliciously evil.
Kimothy Cruse’s direction and Justin Boccitto’s choreography keep the story moving, especially through the difficult sections of the book. The staging seems a little awkward at times. But considering the 15 fifteen actors and 5 musicians on the Minetta Lane’s stage, they do a laudable job of pushing the cast to the limits; while, at the same time, reigning the actors in and keeping the show in beautiful balance.
The show may be over-produced for the Fringe and get in its own way at times. The first performance had some technical difficulties that will hopefully get ironed out. Chasity Neutze’s costumes are a stand-out in the design.
FAR OUT will not be nominated for a Pulitzer. It doesn’t pretend to be a piece of “serious theatre”. It is a science fiction spoof on stage. It is a showcase, not even an off-off-Broadway show. It is, by far, the best of five Fringe musicals I’ve seen this year. If you are willing to spend 15 bucks and suspend your disbelief for 95 minutes, FAR OUT is a lot of FUN. And sometimes, that’s all theater has to be.
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