NEWSical: All The Stuff That’s Fit To Spoof

Reviewed by Holly Bartges

At last!!! An on-target, alive, vibrant news commentary that really is “funnily” hysterical. Where else, except for the Black Box Cabaret, could one expect to see the Pope, Michael Jackson, Dr. Phil, Martha Stewart, Osama, and Anna Nicole romp through a hilarious haystack of flippant barbs and pointed half-truths? The Denver Civic is fortunate. Denver is fortunate. Everyone wins with this fast-paced entertaining parcel of fun that turns the news on itself.

NEWSical has been nominated for two Drama Desks Awards for Outstanding Revue and Outstanding Lyrics categories. Winners will be announced May 22 at the Lincoln Center in New York at an awards gala hosted by Harvey Fierstein. It is difficult to believe that anyone anywhere could do any better job of presenting this rip snorting musical than the cast at The Black Box Cabaret. Directed by Donna Drake, the high-stepping, artistic, talented cast is slick, smooth, professional, and in the blink of an eye change characters, demeanors, and costumes without missing a beat. Comprised of Genevieve Baer, Scott Foster, Drew Frady, and Elizabeth Rose they sail Kentucky Derby style through the music and lyrics written by Rick Crom with Travis Yamamoto on the piano.

News that punches holes in our libido, fries our egos, tussles with our bodies, rankles our faith in human nature, justice, fair play, gets a microscopic once over with ingenious lyrics and captivating actor/singers who allow us to believe once again. Foster, Rose, and Baer take us to Texas where Dubya Rides Again. Frady, Rose, and Baer lament Lost In a Red State. There’s Felt Up At The Airport, which will send you sliding off your chairs. If that won’t do it, there’s Martha Stewart, the Musical, Sponge Bob Scandal, Brad Pitt, Osama and the Director.Then again, maybe there won’t be. To keep up with current times, the songs will change every two weeks. It’s a good thing NEWSical is scheduled for an open-ended run because once you’ve experienced this wacky network world it could easily become addictive. Our society has been depraved for far too long for honest, funny, news repartee from newscasts that bombard us day after day from classical newscasters who keep their faces straight and stern as they carry us through a labyrinth from the ridiculous to the sublime.

NEWSical takes pot shots at Prozac, Ritalin and Trimspa, Self-Improvement, Too Much Botox, America Online, and Red Hat Ladies. And that’s only the beginning. From now on the news will take on a completely different flavor, as one wonders what Crom will do with it. That could be a very good thing. One thing is for certain. He will never run out of material. And that’s another very good thing.

The Black Box Cabaret, once known as the Dorie, serves drinks and chips throughout the show. Because of its open, honest, uninhibited content, it is not recommended for persons under 17 unless accompanied by an adult.

Call early for reservations. They could be hard to come by. The good word is spreading fast. NEWSical nestles down into the Black Box for a very long healthy run for its life. No question, this must be placed at the top of the “To Do” list. It’s brilliant, perceptive, sharp, clear, sidesplitting hysterical, perfectly orchestrated, and magnificently preformed by local artists who have hot-dogged their way to the top.