A spoof of 25 classic Broadway show tunes will ignite non-stop laughter as actors move through songs, characters and costumes at lightning speed across the Gryphon Theatre stage.
Forbidden Broadway, straight from New York, will make its only Ontario stop in Barrie from August 11 to 16. Over its 27-year history in the Big Apple, it has played to the most discriminating audiences from around the world. Forbidden Broadway won a 2006 Tony Award.
The Barrie show will be the best of Forbidden Broadway, which will appeal to those with or without extensive knowledge of hit musicals. The humour is the real twist that transforms show tunes from beloved and entertaining into uproariously funny and high-spirited.
John Freedson, producer of Forbidden Broadway, started out as an actor with the show 23 years ago. He has since directed both in New York and globally. “It’s like Saturday Night Live Meets Broadway. We take the names that people know, like, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and Lion King which have so much hype and turn them on their ear and deflate them a little bit,” Freedson noted.
The jest is all done with great affection, and it becomes a tribute since the actors are singing amusing lyrics yet playing the song straight. “These actors are fabulous. They’ve all been in Broadway shows before. They sing seriously; it’s just that they sing parody lyrics. We always say the way actors should approach Forbidden Broadway is as if they don’t know they’re singing parody lyrics. It’s like a character has been given a shot of truth serum that’s making them use these other words (that) come out of their mouths.”
Little Orphan Annie, for example, laments not having worked since she was 10 while contemplating turning 30, in Tomorrow. Freedson recalled that the first time he saw the show, he was literally propelled from his seat with laughter. “It goes from lights out, applause, lights come up – you’re in a new show. It’s that fast, there are no pauses at all.”
The cast of veteran Broadway actors keep perfect pace with the comedy, while simultaneously delivering outstanding vocal performances. Valerie Fagan, Janet Dickinson, Kevin B. McGlynn and Matthew Weeden will expertly guide the audience through the inside jokes and behind the scenes tidbits that make a number spoofworthy. Pianist Ron Roy will accompany the frantic foolery.
Fagan and Dickinson opened last year’s Forbidden Broadway show and performed the entire year. “They’re two of the greatest ever. Val has a voice as big and beautiful as all the out doors. And Janet, who is one of our great comediennes, does a fabulous Julie Andrews. Kevin has been in the show for 13 years and has a huge voice and personality, and Matt is a fantastic performer who was in our San Diego and New York shows.”
While Freedson’s own children, six-year-old twins, have enjoyed the colourful and comedic production many times, it is most appropriate for a 14-plus audience. One need not have attended any Broadway musicals to enjoy Forbidden Broadway and its not-so-subtle comedic lyrics set to all time favourite tunes, sung by professional New York actors.
Forbidden Broadway runs August 11 to 16, at 8 p.m. with a matinee Wed. August 13 at 2 p.m., For tickets, call the Gryphon box office: 728-4613.
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