I have not laughed so hard at a production in quite some time. “Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song” is a theatrical gem! It is hilarious and extraordinarily well put together by creator, writer, and director Gerard Alessandrini, and is playing at Theater555 (555 W. 42nd Street), and it is a must-see for any theater lover, whether you enjoy Broadway or off-Broadway or both, because Alessandrini makes fun of both types of productions.
It was amazing to be there with my daughter and hear the four brilliant thespians — Nicole Vanessa Ortiz, Chris Collins-Pisano, Danny Hayward, and Jenny Lee Stern — sing with such power, humor, and perfect comedic timing. They not only joked about musicals, including “Cabaret,” “& Juliet,” “Great Gatsby,” “Back to the Future,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “The Outsiders,” and “SIX,” but also went after many famous thespians, including Eddie Redmayne, Daniel Radcliffe, Jeremy Jordan, Ben Platt, and more.
Nothing is off-limits — they also parodied the newest version of “Cats” and went after “Suffs.”
This musical has such a refreshing, unedited, and nontraditional way of breaking down many of the shows we enjoy in a way that is extremely funny. The production asks many questions that we might ask ourselves as we experience various Broadway and off-Broadway productions. It also reinforces the idea that new musicals are often not new at all, but amalgamations of old musicals combined that one should be aware of.
Alessandrini has a marvelously entertaining way of viewing over-the-top theatrical performances by some of the most popular actors on stage. This show will have you in tears laughing. It is a fantastic evening at the theater.
Make plans to go with friends to see “Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song.” In addition to the satire of the shows and actors, there is also delightful choreography by Gerry McIntyre that will have you in stitches. The four actors are also accompanied on stage by musical director/pianist Fred Barton, and he knows how to tickle the ivories just right.
For more info and tickets, visit www.theater555.com.
