The most
imaginative piece of theater in New York right now is happening in a church
basement on West 71st Street. I’m speaking of the musical Bedbugs, and you must run like a commuter fleeing from a
bedbug-infested N train to see it.
I’d forgotten how
much fun camp done well can be and this show hits the nail on the head on
several counts.
The plot, such as
it is, involves the recent infestation of New York City by bedbugs and one
scientist’s quest to wipe them out and simultaneously avenge the
death-by-bedbug of her mother. Somehow, a character based on the self-parodying
singer Celine Dion (here called Dionne Salon) also figures into the plot, to
hilarious effect.
The cast is
uniformly excellent, but there are some standouts in my mind. Barry Shafrin as
a protypical hipster has every mannerism down pat, from the constant scowl on
his face to his non-stop staring at his iPhone to such utterances as “I’m
allergic to sincerity!” and “I don’t even ironically like Dionne Salon!”
That brings us to
Brian Charles Rooney as the aforementioned Dionne Salon. I didn’t even realize
that a man was playing this role until I looked at the program during
intermission. It was only then that I noticed his uncharacteristically (for a
woman) large hands, but then I wondered, “How does he sing so high?” His
impersonation is spot-on, from her annoying habit of pronouncing the word
“love” as “lurve” to her diaphanous gown waving in a fake breeze.
Chris Hall as
lead bedbug Cimex bring a Rocky Horror-like swagger to his role. (It’s no
surprise to learn that he played Rocky and is also in an 80’s tribute band.)
Grace McLean as
the scientist Carly has an admirable set of pipes and makes a wonderful
transition from nerdy scientist to sex-bomb leading lady.
I don’t know how
large the budget for this off-Broadway show is, but you certainly see every
penny onstage. The four-piece band does a pitch-perfect rendition of the show’s
80’s-sounding score by Paul Leschen and Fred Sauter. The costumes (particularly
for the bedbugs) are way over the top and match anything Disney could pull off.
The staging makes the most of this unusually shaped space, including a chirpy
morning news reporter who sticks her head through a TV set to simulate a live
broadcast.
If I wanted to
quibble, I’d say the first act seemed a little long (even though it was only an
hour). But you’ll be having so much fun, you won’t care.
Just bring
insecticide. (I kid!)
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