Date: Fri 06-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

theatre-Forbidden-Cabaret

Full Text:

(rev "Return To The Forbidden Planet" @Downtown Cabaret, 6/6/97)

Theatre Review-

Elvis Meets Shakespeare Meets X

(with photo)

By Julie Stern

BRIDGEPORT - "There are more things on heaven and earth than are dreamed of in

my laboratory," says Dr Who - or rather, Dr Prospero, the mad scientist

marooned on the planet D'Illyria, along with his beautiful teenage daughter,

Miranda, and his faithful eight-foot tall, roller-skating, drum-playing robot,

Ariel.

When a chance asteroid shower forces a spaceship to land on the planet,

introducing the handsome young Captain Tempest to D'Illyrian shores, along

with Cookie - a servile, apelike fellow from the galley who falls in love with

Miranda - well "Great Balls of Fire!"... the Downtown Cabaret Theatre's mix of

classic Shakespeare, old B-movies and rock n' roll goldies really starts to

take off.

As director David LaDuca wrote in the program notes for Return To The

Forbidden Planet , on the Bridgeport stage through August 3, it is as if Elvis

met William Shakespeare on "The X-Files." And as always at the Cabaret, it is

performed with joy and style.

Written by Bob Carlton, Forbidden Planet won the Laurence Olivier Award for

Best Musical when it was performed in London seven years ago. Its success

depends not only on the talent of the performers - each of whom doubles up on

instruments as well as song - but on the familiarity of each audience with

both the rock music and the Shakespearian language.

While the plot situation (like the Hollywood movie it is based on) draws from

Shakespeare's The Tempest , author Carlton has freely scattered bits of Hamlet

, Julius Caesar , Richard III , Macbeth , Romeo and Juliet , Twelfth Night and

the Sonnets, among others, mixing them with "Star Trek" style jargon about

hyperspace and photon shields and other pop culture icons.

Thus, when Captain Tempest is resisting the advances of Miranda, he can say,

"Shall I compare thee to a Barbie doll?" Miranda in turn relieves her wounded

feelings by belting out a few choruses of "(Why Must I Be A) Teenager In

Love."

The best numbers here belong to Meghan Duffy, as the mysterious Science

Officer singing James Brown's "A Man's World" and "Tell Her," and to Louis

Tucci (as the Caliban-like Cookie), especially "She's Not There" and "Shake

Rattle and Roll." Also, Geoffrey Sullivan as the silver-coated, silver-tongued

Ariel, singing "Who's Sorry Now."

The combination of Jeff Modereger's scenic design and Hugh Hallinan's lighting

and special effects is spectacular. The whole thing, as Monty Python would

say, is "something a little different." Be warned: Forbidden Planet is loud,

but it is definitely fun.

At the Downtown Cabaret Theatre until August 3, Return To The Forbidden Planet

performances are Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 5:30 and 8:30 pm, and Sunday at

5:30. Tickets range from $19.50 to $25, depending on performance day and time.

Call 576-1636 for details. The Downtown Cabaret Theatre is BYOB and picnic.