The Beastly Bombing CurtainUp

A CurtainUp Los Angeles Review

The Beastly Bombing

by Ariana Mufson www.curtainup.com

Russell Steinberg, Andrew Ableson, Jacob Sidney, Aaron Matajasic (Photo: Kim Gottlieb-Walker)

Despite being located far from Hollywood's main drag of artistic venues, the Steve Allen Theater is creating quite a stir. Nestled in the bohemian center of Los Angeles (aka Los Feliz) The Beastly Bombing or A Terrible Tale of Terrorists Tamed by The Tangles of True Love is not your typical operetta, nor for those who are easily offended. Writer/Director Julien Nitzberg and composer Roger Neill have teamed up to create libretto and music that reminds one simultaneously of Gilbert and Sullivan and Mel Brooks.

The catchy tunes encompass a story about two duos, Patrick and Frank—a pair of bumbling white supremacists— and Abdul and Khalid—blundering Al Qaeda members. When the four discover their mutual love of bombs and for destroying America, they become a quartet on the run from the police. Somehow, they end up in an ecstasy driven orgy with two drug addicted President's daughters and a pedophiliac Priest (and that's just the first act).

The plot points alone should cause even the most world weary theater goer to prick up their ears. Although not all of the lyrics are clever enough to stay in one's head after the show has ended, the premise will—and should provide lively conversation for those who attend.

The cast members, comprised of theater veterans galore, are eloquent and well equipped to handle the material. Thankfully, their enunciation allows us to understand every barb and witty aside. The show starts small, introducing all of the characters in duets. The core quartet are up to the task, with standout performances from Andrew Ableson and Jacob Sidney.

The simple set works well, and the actors make full use of the stage. The strong choreography allows for plenty of comedic moments, although adding additional levels to the set (as occurs in the beginning of the show) could have aided in the visual imagery. "Song of the Secular Jew" is a musical highlight as the white supremacists and Al Qaeda members sing and dance along with a duo of Hasidic Jews. It's fairly odd to be humming along to a number that should be offensive, but hum and laugh you do.

Although the tunes are catchy, the plot as a whole doesn't always work. The second act especially leaves much to be desired, as it ties up loose ends a little too neatly. Nitzberg's direction is caught between broad comedy and satire. For a show that thrives on pushing buttons, it seems to lose its grit, and instead revels in somewhat gratuitous gay jokes and partial nudity. The raunchy and low brow scenes don't always mesh with the high brow humor. While some of the lines had the audience laughing, there were plenty that also seemed over the top. There's no need to resort to such broad comedy when your lyrics are sharp and fun, especially when the first act succeeds in blending both.

Beastly Bombing follows the prototypical musical format to a tee, but in doing so almost forgets what its purpose seems to be—to ridicule the very medium that it has adopted. Nonetheless, it's still refreshing to see theater that tackles the taboo. Humor and wry satire provide the perfect antidote to a society bogged down in a P.C. world where the tiniest political snafu makes it into the nightly news.

Muziektheater is een kunstvorm waarin live op een podium, ten overstaan van publiek, toneelspelers een verhaal brengen, met een combinatie van dia- en monologen, zang, dans, muziek en non-verbale, lichamelijke uitdrukking. Afhankelijk van welke van deze elementen de overhand hebben, onderscheidt men diverse vormen van theater. Opera en operette zijn een vorm waarin muziek de overhand heeft en de spelers hun woorden op kenmerkende, tot de klassieke muziek behorende wijze zingen; daarbij ondersteund door een klassiek orkest. Bij musical brengt men de vertelling zingende, maar nu op een manier die tot de popmuziek gerekend kan; en ondersteund wordt door live vertolkte popmuziek. Dans en gesproken woord spelen er ook een rol bij.

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