What happens when a spunky little LA theatre company discovers a funky musical from the late 20th Century first produced at The Actors Gang and then off to Bright Lights Big City in 2001 to high acclaim? A morality tale? Broad characters and a big reveal waiting at the end?
Pat Towne directs. That he directed Zappa's "Joe's Garage" is great credit!
It's a cast of thousands and an ambitious take on a 1992 super market tabloid feature story. . Bizarre? You said it!.
A doubled edged take on life in a small West Virginia town ..slightly dated with fear and religion bubbling up as we progress with live accompaniment by Sean Paxton.
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| Grace Soens, Bethany Koulias, Amir Levi, Ben Raanan and Ensemble Photo by John Dlugolecki |
A terrific set by Brad Bentz becomes sundry and effective locations including the forest primevil with an encounter with Pan (Amir Levi) and a merry band of critters who take stage with a gratuitous orgy rocking out to make Bat Boy (Ben Raanan) feel less like a freak and unite him with the girl of his dreams, Shelley Parker (Bethany Koulias) *uh oh..* But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Whatever excited Tim Robbins and The Actors Gang to embrace this bizarre creative prompt is a gift. Why do it? Because we can! It's an ambitious story and presented with broad strokes ..the subtext of which is a little fuzzy. Why Doc Parker (Scott Mosenson) does what he does is a bit vague.. uh oh.. and the final reveal is a little like Hamlet Act Five Scene Two (I had to look it up..)
Raanan as the titular Bat Boy succeeds with panache. On Bentz's heavy wooden set, he scampers like Gollum in search of his Precious and brings the tabloid critter to life. He is a quick study!
There are mysteries lurking in the plot that really don't matter that much. Why a tiny West Virginia town is stirred by fear turns on religion.. a good goad..and the result is mixed emotions: Christian Charity? Fear of the Unholy/unknown? This we learn in the prequel as we approach the finale. I really liked the shadow play.
The rag tag chorus over does the unique West Virginia accent, but it works..It's broad and amplfied by musical numbers. The really wonderful choreography is by Jennifer Maples.
The reputation of the play is wide spread and the opportunity to see what can happen with a splashy tabloid story expanded creatively rocks at THE OPEN FIST. I recommend it. It ain't Broadway! and appropriately so: less than slick and full of "let's put on a show!" heart. Mickey and Judy in the Open Fist's barn!
The entire cast is on board to sell it and the audience is down with every number.
Well hidden upstage is The Band! Excellent!
Lights by Brandon Baruch are wonderful.
BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL
CAST
BAT BOY: Ben Raanan
MEREDITH PARKER: Robyn Roth
DR.THOMAS PARKER Scott Mosenson *
SHELLEY PARKER: Bethany Koulias *
SHERIFF REYNOLDS:: Michael Lanahan *
RICK TAYLOR: Ethen Remez-Cott
RON TAYLOR: Isaac Council
RUTHIE TAYLOR: Sandra Kate Burck
MRS TAYLOR: Rebecca Larsen*
MAGGIE: Beth Robbins
REVEREND HIGHTOWER:Chima Rok
PAN: Amir Levi *
LORRAINE: Grace Soens
BUD: Hutchins Foster
NED: Ziare Rene
DAISY: Carmella Jenkins
Crew:
Choreography by Jennifer Maples
Music Direction by Sean Paxtonscenic Scenic designer Brad Bentz;
Lighting designer Brandon Baruch;
Sound designer Christopher Moscatiello Mixer Alex Hix;
Costume designer Michael Mullen;
Graphic designer D. Morris.
Produced byAmanda Weier and Christian Lebano co-produce for Open Fist Theatre Company.
The production stage manager is John Dimitri.
Publicity for Theatre Lucy Pollak
BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL
STORY & BOOK BY
KEYTHE FARLEY& BRIAN
FLEMMING MUSIC & LYRICS BY LAURENCE O'KEEFE
Directed by Pat Towne
Presented by Open Fist Theatre Company
Martha Demson, artistic director
WHEN:
• Previews: Feb. 22 through Feb. 28
• Performances: March 1 through April 6:
• Click here to view the performance schedule, which varies throughout the run.
WHERE:
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039
• FREE parking in the ATX (Atwater Crossing) lot one block south of the theater.
TICKETS:
• Previews: Pay–What–You–Will starting at $10
• Performances: $26–$45
HOW:
www.openfist.org
(323) 882-6912
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