Slapstick on Stage | "Mrs. Doubtfire" @ BIH/Pantages

[cahwyguy]

What a contrast. The last show we saw at the Pantages, Girl From The North Country, was dark and depressing. The show we saw last night, Mrs. Doubtfire, was hilariously funny. This is a show you should see while you can on tour, for a number of reasons: First, this is the rare tour that has the Broadway lead, and it is well well worth it. Second, this is one of those shows you won’t be seeing at the community or regional level, simply because they will not have the resources for the facial prosthetics.

So let’s start at the beginning.

Back in 1993, we were members at the newly merged synagogue Kol Tikvah in Woodland Hills (formed from the merger of our congregation at the time, Temple Emet, and another local congreagtion, Shir Chadash, helmed by Rabbi Steve Jacobs. One of the fundraising events they did was a “sneak peak” of a new movie, which turned out to be—you probably guessed it—Mrs. Doubtfire. Robin Williams, Sally Field, and so many others. It was a hilariously funny film. I haven’t see it all that much since then, but the humor of the film really rested on the singular talent that was Robin Williams.

A few years ago, amid a rash of Screen-to-Stage productions such as Pretty Woman, and Tootsie, Mrs. Doubtfire was musicalized. I listened to the album. Some good music, but nothing long lasting. It was the movie on stage.

We saw it last night at the Pantages. It was hilarious.

So what worked and what didn’t.

The first thing this show has going for it is the writing team: Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick for music and lyrics; Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell for the book. This is the team that was behind Something Rotten. The show does bring the humor, and it brings the slapstick. There are lots of topical jokes. Where is falls down is the music. The music isn’t bad; it just isn’t memorable. Something Rotten had lots of songs that had legs: you remembered them after the show, and they could easily be staged elsewhere. Here, the songs (while very entertaining) are very tied to context, and only one (“As Long as There is Love”) can really stand on its own.

The second thing this show has going for it is the husband and wife team of Rob McClure and Maggie Lakis in the lead roles. McClure (Daniel Hillard) is a comic powerhouse, great at voices and physical comedy. He isn’t afraid to ham it up and play it for laughs, and it works in this show. His resume shows his comic chops, for in addition to this there is Beetlejuice, Something Rotten!, Noises Off, Honeymoon in Vegas. He’s a real talent, and must be seen. His real life wife, Maggie Lakis, plays his on-stage ex-wife Miranda, and you can see the chemistry between them. You can believe there is and was love there, and can see the fights. You can see him watching her, and her watching him, and their chemistry amplifies things. Lakis is also a strong singer and dancer; she was also in Something Rotten!, so they’ve done this before.  You can also tell that McClure really enjoys this role and the freedom he has to play. It is a comic actors dream, especially when he can play it in Los Angeles, home to casting directors galore.

Also notable is Giselle Gutierrez (Lydia Hillard). For such a youngling, she has a remarkable singing voice and a great stage presence.

Also to be commended is the special effects team: Catherine Zuber on Costumes, David Brian Brown on Hair and Wig, and Port City Technical on Technical Supervision.

One additional comment: Normally, I’m down on men in drag for humor shows. That’s a major problem I had with Tootsie. This show doesn’t come across this way, because the humor rarely comes from “this is a man in a dress”, but from the humorous character of Doubtfire. I think that’s a big difference. Still, the man in a dress trope really doesn’t work these days.

So, what are the problems with this show. The major one is that it doesn’t have legs. This could be a great community or regional theatre show, except there is no way they can do the facial prosthetics required (which have to come on and off in less that one minute). If it makes it to the level of a 5-Star (Regional) or Canyon Theatre Guild (Community), I’ll be very surprised. That’s why you should see this NOW. It likely won’t make it on the non-tour circuit. Alas, there are many shows like that.

I’ll keep this short, as the Tony Award start in a few. Go see this show; you’ll enjoy it.

Mrs. Doubtfire continues at Broadway in Hollywood/Pantages through June 30. Tickets are available through the BIH webiste.

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Mrs. Doubtfire. Music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick & Karey Kirkpatrick. Book by Karey Kirkpatrick & John O’Farrell. Based on the Twentieth Century Studios Motion Picture. Direction by Jerry Zaks. Choreography by Lorin Latarro.

Cast; (underline indicates performing at our show; strikeout was not at our performance): Rob McClure Daniel Hillard; Maggie Lakis Miranda Hillard; Giselle Gutierrez Lydia Hillard; Nik Alexander Marquez Linder Andre Mayem; Leo Roberts Stuart Dunmire; Romelda Teron Benjamin Wanda Sellner; Sam Bird / Axel Bernard Rimmele Christopher Hillard; Emerson Mae Chan / Charlotte Sydney Harrington Natalie Hillard; David Hibbard Mr. Jolly / Judge / Doctor / Ensemble; Jodi Kimura Janet Lundy / Ensemble; Alex Banton Ensemble; Jonathan Hoover Ensemble; Sheila Jones Ensemble; Julie Kavanagh Ensemble, Dance Captain; Marquez Linder Ensemble; Alex Ringler Ensemble; Lannie Rubio Ensemble; Neil Starkenberg Ensemble, Asst. Dance Captain; Joey Stone Loopy Lenny, Ensemble; Lauryn Withnell Ensemble; Julia Yameen Ensemble. Swings were: Ian Liberto, Naderah Munajj; JP Qualters; Bianca Rivera-Irions; Joey Stone, Gina Ward.

Music Department: (L) indicates local. Mark Binns Conductor / Keys 1; Nicholas Johnson Asst. Conductor / Keys 2; Peter Serravalle Guitar 1; Pili Ka’upu-Fronda Drums / Percussion; Jim Abbott Keyboard and Guitar Programming; John Miller Music Coordinator; Jeff Driskilll (L) Flute / Clarinet / Soprano Sax / Alto Sax; Javier Gonzalez (L) Trumpet / Flugelhorn; Nick Daley (L) Trombone; Ira Glansbeek (L) Cello; Brian LaFontaine (L) Guitars (Electric / Steel String & Nylon String Acoustic); Kavah Rastegar (L) Electric Bass; Benet Braun (L) Keyboard Sub; Eric Heinly (L) Orchestra Contractor.  Ethan Popp Music Supervisor, Arranger, Orchestrator. Zane Mark Dance Music Arrangements.  Matthew Smedal Assoc. Music Supervisor.

Production and Creative: David Korins Set Designer; Catherine Zuber Costume Designer; Philip Rosenberg Lighting Designer; Brian Ronan Co-Sound Design; Craig Cassidy Co-Sound Designer; David Brian Brown Hair and Wig Designer; Stephen Edlund Assoc. Director; Michaeljon Slinger Assoc. Choreographer; Port City Technical Technical Supervision; Kelsey Tippins Production Stage Manager; Kyle Dannahey 1st Asst. Stage Manager; Madison Tarchala 2nd Asst. Stage Manager; Patrick Wetzel Sub Asst. Stage Manager; Stacy Myers Company Manager; The Telsey Office Casting.

Notable Other Credits: Emily Hermey Nanny; RPM Social Media.

♦ ♦ ♦

Administrivia: I am not a professional critic. I’m a cybersecurity professional, a roadgeek who does a highway site and a podcast about California Highways, and someone who loves live performance. I buy all my own tickets, unless explicitly noted otherwise. I do these writeups to share my thoughts on shows with my friends and the community. I encourage you to go to your local theatres and support them (ideally, by purchasing full price tickets, if you can afford to do so). We currently subscribe or have memberships at: Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre; Broadway in Hollywood/Pantages Theatre; Pasadena Playhouse; and 5-Star Theatricals. We’re looking for the right intimate theatre to subscribe at — it hasn’t been the same since Rep East died (it’s now The Main, and although it does a lot of theatre, it doesn’t have seasons or a resident company), and post-COVID, most 99-seaters aren’t back to doing seasons (or seasons we like). I used to do more detailed writeups; here’s my current approach.

Upcoming ♦ Theatre / ♣ Music / ◊ Other Live Performance – Next 90ish Days (⊕ indicates ticketing is pending):

• June: ♦ Come Blow Your Horn at Canyon Theatre Guild; ♦ Radium Girls at Stage Left Productions (Surprise AZ).
• July: ♦ Peter Pan at Broadway in Hollywood/Pantages; ♦ The Sound of Music at 5-Star Theatricals;
• August: ♦ Clue at CTG/Ahamanson Theatre; ♦ Company at Broadway in Hollywood/Pantages; ♣ Postmodern Jukebox at The Magnolia, El Cajon.
• September: ♦ Hamilton at Broadway in Hollywood/Pantages; Cyrano de Bergerac ⊕ at Pasadena Playhouse;
• October: ♦ American Idiot ⊕ at CTG/Taper; ♦ Little Shop of Horrors at 5-Star Theatricals; ♦ Kimberly Akimbo at Broadway in Hollywood/Pantages.

On the Theatrical Horizon:

Season renewals time: Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre; Broadway in Hollywood/Pantages Theatre; and Pasadena Playhouse are all renewed. We’re looking to see what Chromolume Theatre (which is returning) and Canyon Theatre Guild are planning. Other than that, Jason Alexander will be doing Fiddler on the Roof , directed by Lonny Price, at La Mirada in November.

This entry was originally posted on Observations Along the Road as Slapstick on Stage | "Mrs. Doubtfire" @ BIH/Pantages by cahwyguy. Although you can comment on DW, please make comments on original post at the Wordpress blog using the link to the left. You can sign in with your LJ, DW, FB, or a myriad of other accounts. Note: Subsequent changes made to the post on the blog are not propagated by the SNAP Crossposter; please visit the original post to see the latest version. P.S.: If you see share buttons above, note that they do not work outside of the Wordpress blog.