Acting, choreography, costumes, lighting, and music make for a funny and emotional production
By Lee Juillerat for Ashland.news
Who thought a disaster — a rumbling earthquake, roaring tidal waves, a man tossed overboard gobbled up by hungry piranhas, an older woman dying, infernos — could be both so laugh-out-loud funny and tear-inducingly emotional?
“Disaster!,” the current offering at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre that plays through Sept. 7, is a jukebox musical that is anything but a disaster.
Set in New York City in 1979 on opening night aboard the Barracuda, Manhattan’s first floating casino, the musical rolls out a jukebox array of golden oldies — “I Am Woman,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” “Hot Stuff,” “Saturday Night,” “Knock on Wood,” “I Will Survive,” “Hooked on a Feeling,” “Mockingbird,” and many more.
Directed by Valerie Rachelle, the Cabaret’s artistic director, “Disaster!” generates good vibrations because of its incredible cast – there is no single star among its 13 performers – and wow-inducting staging, choreography, costumes, and lighting.
Because the Barracuda’s penny-pinching owner has cut construction corners, the casino/discotheque is filled with disco-dance happy revelers ready to rock the night away. But the real rock ‘n roll begins when, near the end of the first act, an earthquake breaks the ship from the dock to ocean, where a series of tidal waves — uh oh! — flip the Barracuda upside down.
Written by Seth Rudestsky and Jack Plotnick, “Disaster!” spoofs disaster films like “The Poseidon Adventure,” “Earthquake” and “The Towering Inferno” by making tragic happenings both wildly hilarious and emotionally heart-tugging.
They created a loveable cast of quirky characters with widely differing personalities.
There’s Shirley and Maury, played by Todd Nielsen and the amazing face contorting Priscilla Quinby, a sweet older couple celebrating Maury’s retirement. Often hilarious as Sister Mary is Molly Stillens, who prays for deliverance from her addiction to slot machines. And Rebecca Tucker is Marianne, a just-the-facts newspaper reporter covering the floating casino’s grand opening and who, it’s revealed, disappeared on her would-be wedding day with Chad (Ian Christenson), who after the wedding-that-wasn’t, dealt with his grief by taking a job working on the Barracuda.
There’s also Tony (Rick D. Wasserman), the Barracuda’s nasty owner; Ted (Alex Boyles), a disaster expert whose warnings go unheeded; Levora (Asha Brownie Gordon), a down-on-luck disco star and her puppy, Baby; and Jackie (Christie Debreau) a sexy lounge singer who tells her twin 11-year-olds, Ben and Lisa (both hilariously done by Alyssa Hertzog), of her hopes for a marriage offer from Tony. Taking on multiple roles are Braydon Simmons, Aidan Jenkins, and Sasha Conley.
Personally, some of the most incredible moments stemmed from the seemingly unlikely entrances to songs, such as the events that lead Sister Mary into crooning “Never Could Say Goodbye” and “Mockingbird” with Jackie and Ted.
Along with serving as play’s director, Rachelle also co-choreographed “Disaster!” Others on the production team include music director Mike Wilkins, intimacy director Jackie Apodaca, assistant director Julia Funk, and stage manager Amanda Rose Johnson.
Brian Redfern, who designed the show’s “versatile set” — including a dazzling sequence of rising water — is joined on the design team by lighting designer Monica Bowker, costume designer Kristie Mattson, sound designer CJ Whitaker, projection designer Michael Stanfill, wig designer Alejandro Bermudez, and prop designer Kenny Murrell.
The combined excellence, from the script to the staging to the performances, creates a “Disaster!” that’s silly, sweet, and sentimental, a musical that’s wild, wacky and heartfelt.
The floating casino, The Barracuda,” proved to not be seaworthy, but “Disaster!” the musical is without a doubt see-worthy.
If it were a movie “Disaster!”would be rated PG-13 for mild coarse language, comic violence, and adult situations.
Thursday, Saturday and Sunday matinees begin at 1 p.m., while evening performances are 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday nights.
Reservations are required for pre-show dinner or brunch. Appetizers, cocktails, beverages, and desserts are available without reservations. Tickets range from $32 to $54. The Cabaret offers a 15% ticket discount for groups of 12 or more for select ticket types and performances. $15 student rush tickets can be purchased 30 minutes before curtain with a valid student ID, subject to availability. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Oregon Cabaret Theatre box office at 541-488-2902 or visit oregoncabaret.com.
Email freelance writer Lee Juillerat at 337lee337@charter.net.
