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Check out John Moore's review for PAGEANT. Did he call these characters "freaks"? See for yourself


http://www.denverpost.com/theater/ci_4158751

posted by theatre group at 12:15 PM  |  0 comments  

Review by David Marlowe, Life on Capital Hill - Outfront Colorado

The Musical Theatre Super Bowl of fashion wear and pulchritude is currently kicking up its gams over at Theatre on Broadway. Steve Tangedal directs this sidesplitting send-up of shows like the Miss America Pageant with a dollop of (dare I say it?) Queen For a Day. It's all done with Tangedal's usual tongue in cheek style. Everything is played to get the yucks of the week out and the yuks of the weekend in. Tangedal's show will Pulverize your finny bone. How? Well first of all he's cast George Pulver (get it? Pulverize?) as Frankie Cavalier, the Bert Parks of this beauty Pageant non-pareil. Costumed in a seemingly never ending array of matching bow ties and cummerbunds for his after six wear, Pulver charms with the ingratiating humor of his songs and commentary. He's "tender and macho, and hot as a nacho!" The girls are all portrayed by the TOB boys in this show, and whether new faces, or familiar ones, they will do you Proud. C.J. Hosier is a sure fire bet to run for the roses as Consuela Manuela Rafaella Lopez - Miss Industrial North East. The raven black curls and over-the-top accent of Hosier's character's spicy Latin heritage stands him in good stead for winning the coveted award. His roller-skating accordion solo is hilariously horrifying. Todd Black as Laurinda Summerford (Miss Deep South) does his funniest stage work yet. His three voiced ventriloquism with granny and gramps puppets had the audience howling. Preston Britton is completely charmin' as Kitty Bob Ames (Miss Texas.) "Daddy always says, 'we may have more money than God, but we don't have to act like it." Richard Clark is a hoot as Ruth Ann Ruth (Miss Bible Belt.) She has deep faith that she will win since it is all a part of "His Plan." Clark's singing of "Bankin’ on Jesus" is the zenith of this musical lampoon. Michael Higginbotham is Bonnie Louise Cutlett (Miss Great Plains.) Shannon McCarthy is Karma Quinn (Miss West Coast.) Karma is big on fire walking and reincarnation and "hopes that someday she will live in the past." The behavior and attitudes of these contestants will enchant and floor the most avid bodaciaphile! Shelley Bordas has created a stunning array of costumes for the contestants, which one might refer to as fox haute couture, or was that "faux?") You be the judge! If you're sitting in one of the two front rows you could be picked to be one of the four judges of the finalists in this "Pageant." And don't think it will be easy to choose one of these hilarious characters as the winner. They are all prime targets for victory when the judges hold up those voting cards. (Please note: there was no attempt at voter fraud on the evening this reviewer attended.) Pageant also takes off on the commercials seen between segments of such programs. These cheesy vignettes are intermittently inflicted as contestants take turns promoting hilariously unlikely ladies' products from Glamouresse. Just one example is the innovative aerosol hair spray with a dual purpose. You spray your do from one end, and an Ozone healer sprays out the other. "It’s Hair Repair and Air Repair in one easy to use canister." Of equal value was a promo for "Smooth as Marble Facial Spackle." The staff at TOB has also renovated their lobby and repainted the walls a refreshing combination of mauve and sage green. It's easy on the eyes and very conducive to pre-show and Intermission socializing. The music and lyrics are passable for the moment, but evaporate quickly. If you're looking for something light and frothy just for skits and giggles, this is it!
Not to be missed.

posted by theatre group at 2:38 PM  |  0 comments