THE BASICS: DISASTER!, a 2012 musical by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick, directed by Randall Kramer, presented by MusicalFare, starring Kyle Bassett-Baran, Kelly Copps, Kevin Craig, Arin Lee Dandes, Gabby McKinley, Ricky Needham, Emily Yancey, and many, many more. April 12 – May 14, Wednesdays – Thursdays at 7 pm, Fridays – Saturdays at 7:30, Saturdays at 3:30, and Sundays at 2. On the MusicalFare Theatre main stage, c/o Daemen College 4380 Main Street, Amherst, NY 14226. (716) 839-8540 info@musicalfare.com
RUNTIME: 2 hours, 10 minutes including one intermission
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: This musical is a spoof of 1970s disaster movies (think “The Poseidon Adventure,” but also “Airport,” “The Swarm,” “The Towering Inferno,” “Earthquake” etc.). It’s a different type of “jukebox musical” using a variety of hits of the ‘70s including “Knock on Wood,” “Sky High,” “I Am Woman” “Hot Stuff” and many more. In most musicals, our belief is that the songs were created by a sincere artistic desire to add depth to the plot. In jukebox musicals, a lot of the fun comes from the way the book is manipulated to create a plausible excuse for an existing song, and in DISASTER! “Hooked on a Feeling” has one of the funniest setups ever to get us into the familiar “Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga” beginning.
From the MusicalFare publicity: “It’s 1979, and New York’s hottest A-listers are lining up for the opening of a floating casino and discotheque. Also attending is a faded disco star, a sexy nightclub singer with her eleven-year-old twins, a disaster expert, a feminist reporter, an older couple with a secret, a pair of young guys who are looking for ladies, an untrustworthy businessman, and a nun with a gambling addiction. What begins as a night of boogie fever quickly changes to panic as the ship succumbs to multiple disasters, such as earthquakes, tidal waves, and infernos. As the night turns into day, everyone struggles to survive and, quite possibly, repair the love that they’ve lost… or at least escape the killer rats.”
THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION: As a recent meme I saw read: “Every disaster movie begins with people ignoring a scientist.” And DISASTER! is nothing if not devoted to the genre.
Kevin Craig, thankfully back in town from earning his MFA at Michigan State, who killed it recently in the one-man EVERY BRILLIANT THING, continued his comedic brilliance playing Ted Scheider, the scientist and “disaster expert” who tries (but of course fails) to warn the others of the impending doom.
His polar opposite in terms of virtue is Tony Delvecchio, the sleazy and duplicitous owner of the floating casino, who positively drips with moral turpitude. He is also stringing along Jackie, a mother with twins! Booo! What a cad! Kyle Bassett-Baran excels as “the bad guy.”
Kelly Copps (it’s so good to have her back on stage in a big role, such talent, what a voice) plays Jackie Noelle, a lounge singer, who’s hoping that Tony will propose. Oh, Jackie. She’s also the mother of twins, Ben and Lisa, both played (almost simultaneously) by one actor, the talented Arin Lee Dandes who specializes in playing children. Her timing is excellent. No spoilers, but during Act II Dandes pulls off a stunt that had the audience break into spontaneous shouts, laughter, and applause. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
As the saying goes “Success has many fathers; failure is an orphan.” So we know, a great successful scene like that I mentioned also involves solid direction by Randy Kramer, a clever set by Chris Cavanagh, props by Kevin Fahey, and the costumes, hair, wig, and make-up by Kari and Susan Drozd.
The mellow-voiced Ricky Needham shines as Chad Rubik (that last name will be important in Act II), a caterer at the casino who was previously engaged to Marianne, the reporter.
Needham is matched note for note by the Broadway voiced Maria Pedro (recently the on-stage understudy at MusicalFare in TELL ME ON A SUNDAY) who plays Marianne Wilson, a reporter but also the ex-fiancée of Chad before she left him to pursue her reporting career.
Michael Gilbert-Wachowiak plays Scott, also a caterer and friend of Chad. The two of them, to use a 1977 reference, are what we might call a couple of “wild and crazy guys.”
Gabriella Jean (Gabby) McKinley who recently ruled in TONI STONE at Ujima Theater, again brings her A-game and belts out the role of Levora Verona, a has-been disco singer hoping to revive her career. Great Scott, such talent.
Playing a nun is becoming a habit with the versatile Emily Yancey (recently seen as Sister Amnesia in NUNSENSATIONS) who here plays Sister Mary Downey, a nun with a secret gambling addiction.
And, in one of the finest character names ever, “Shirley Winters” and her husband “Maury Winters” are played by Jennifer Mysliwy and Jon May. Of course “Shirley Winters” is an homage to the great actress Shelley Winters who played the iconic role of Belle Rosen (married to Manny Rosen) in the 1972 disaster movie “The Poseidon Adventure.” And, in fact, much of this musical is a send-up of Poseidon.
I’d like to end with a shout-out to the director, Randy Kramer, and the choreographer, Robin Barker. There are a lot, and I mean a lot, of moving parts in this musical. The songs have to flow and Music Director Theresa Quinn on keyboards manages a very tight four-man combo. But the jokes have to land, both in spoken word and physical comedy, and they do. Over and over. Job well done.
Lead image: DISASTER! at MusicalFare at center stage Kevin Craig as Ted the scientist and Gabby McKinley as Levora Verona
*HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)
ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.
TWO BUFFALOS: Passable, but no great shakes. Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic. Unless you are the sort of person who’s happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.
THREE BUFFALOS: I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater. If you don’t go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.
FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.
FIVE BUFFALOS: Truly superb–a rare rating. Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart. Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you’d be a fool to miss it!