Miscast 2007

Reviewed by Holly Bartges

John Aston and Hank Williams? Todd Peckham singing Aida’s My Strongest Suit? Charlie Packard as Arnold Beckoff in Torch Song Trilogy? David Ballew as Morales in A Chorus Line? Gregg Adams in a chicken costume? Patricia Mansfield as Bess in Porgy and Bess?

Mark Pergola as Elvira Barcelona, one of the Emcees for Miscast 2007. Photo by John Moore/The Denver Post

You Betch’em Red Ryder! Last Saturday night Next Stage’s annual fund-raiser, Miscast 2007 took to the Aurora Fox stage raising $2,500 with the hilarious and unlikely production and with the silent auction. Jenny Hecht, President of the Next Stage Board of Directors definitely had her hands full sharing the Emcee slot with off-the-wall Elvira Barcelona who lives a life in constant drama. Hecht’s expertise held her own against the flamboyant over dramatic Elvira.

Dramatic as she is, Elvira provided a magnificent stunning well written, beautifully performed cryptic monologue commentary on a variety of issues. Elvira could well have her own show and definitely ought to be considered for other Emcee positions because this flashy ostentatious performer has some of the freshest honest new comedic material I have heard in a very long time. A breath of fresh air with powerful material driving home much needed to be said commentary held together parenthetically with genuine laughter.

Miscast featured 23 actors giving a glimpse of roles they never in a thousand years could consider auditioning. Although the evening centered on fun and frolic, it produced some amazing performances that would make the real actors in the shows green around the gills.

Through out the evening Hecht announced next season’s line up for Next Stage following Assassins opening this Friday night at the Aurora Fox. Announcing Next Stage would not be performing I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change brought the house to its knees with appreciative “applaused-laughter.” Falsettos, Music and Lyrics by William Finn, Book by James Lapine and Finn, and directed by Gene Kato opens April 2008; 18 Holes by Kato and directed by Jessica Clare opens August 2008, and Mr. Marmalade, by Noah Haidle directed by Kato completes the season in October 2008.

The good news for Next Stage is Aurora Fox will be their new home. Following Assassins performed on the Main Stage, the other shows will be in the Fox’s new rehearsal black box stage, the Fox Studio Theatre.

Ashton, dressed in cowboy hat strumming a guitar turned himself into Hank Williams, or at least tried to, along with his band consisting of Eric Weber, Tupper Cullum, and Steve Sealy standing the audience on its head with Williams’ famous Lonesome. Hey Good Lookin’, and Move it On Over. What a way to start Act II.

Packard known for his brilliant scenic and lighting designs took the stage for the first time in 16 years with Arnold’s opening soliloquy in Act I, International Stud, of Torch Song Trilogy verbally examining his disillusionment of love. Providing Arnold’s heart and soul, Packard laid them carefully out on the stage with touching believability.

When it was announced Mansfield would be singing My Man’s Gone Now from Porgy and Bess that was just fine because anything goes at Miscast. However, the truth is her powerful voice becomes Bess. I have heard a few actors playing Bess who would have done well to dub Mansfield’s voice in for theirs. Black actors took on Dorothy’s travels to Oz in The Wiz. Why not a white production of Porgy and Bess? Auditions would read: the role of Bess has already been cast. Mansfield gave her to us.

Not surprising Dave Ballew would choose Marales’s song Nothing from A Chorus Line. Through his eyes, expressions and physicality, Ballew captured the poignancy of the Puerto Rican wanna be dancer Morales with heart-rending truth.

The showstopper came with Peckham’s adoption of Aida’s spoiled Amneris’ song My Strongest Suit. With a Broadway flair costumed to the hilt, his bevy of “chorus girls” consisted of Daniel L. Ortiz, Jenna Moll-Reyes, Kerri Emswiller, Olivia Hendrick, Lauren Friednash, and Colin Roybal.

Additional artists and artistic endeavors: Bretta Risner sang I Am I from Man of La Mancha giving Don Quixote a run for his money; Gregg Adams sang The Crossing from Big River. The chicken outfit with a cigarette dangling from his chicken mouth nearly blinded the song that flew by with chicken wings. It didn’t matter. He was clucking “good.”

Hecht surprised her husband Stephen by inviting him on stage to sit in a chair while she sang the Proposal Song from Falsettos, explaining he proposed to her once, it was only right she return the favor. Humorous and charming, Stephen handled the serendipitous situation with cool grace. Hecht endeared the audience with style and humor.

Brian Hutchinson unglued everyone appearing with hair net, flowing robe and fish net stockings singing How Did We Come To This from The Wild Party.

Michael Starks and Kevin Doherty sang What You Don’t Know About Women; Jessica Clare poignantly took On The Streets of Dublin for a ride that became hers. With Electricity running at full speed, Kristin Krieg became Billy Elliot from the hit musical. Kato provided the first glimpse of his new play 18 Holes scheduled for next season explaining his name is Lyle emphasizing “Golf is not about winning or losing. It’s all about the conversation while waiting to play.” He gave us enough of a glimpse to want to make reservations now. Hutchinson and Michelle Mertz in green dresses sang Green Green Dresses keeping the giggles flowing.

Martha Yordy on the Keyboard glued the show together with her precise musicality. Such great fun to watch her hands fly across the keyboard. Having the keyboard on stage kept her in the limelight to watch her as well as the incredible acts tumbling one after another.

If you missed Miscast this year, just don’t next year. It’s a showcase of talented artists representing several of the metro area’s prominent theatres singing songs that are totally “Wrong.” On the other hand, the truth is, some of the performers “Right” for the songs could learn a great deal from those miscast. Hand in hand with hilarious laughability lies a heart and soul “bigger than all outdoors.” In some respects, it’s a shame Miscast has only one night to spread its hilarious musical charm.

And, oh yes, behind the brains, costumes and make up of Elvira Barcelona is none other than Mark Pergola who turned the Aurora Fox upside down and sideways.