Photo Source: Matthew Brian Denman
Director Michael A. Shepperd adeptly guides the Celebration Theatre's first world-premiere musical. The cast is accomplished and the staging is handsome. Pugach's clever book and score—more gay than Grimm—show great promise, though they still require refocusing and sharpening.
Once every 100 years, Minerva (Gina Torrecilla), head honcho god-mistress, selects an appropriate appointee from her stable of aspiring godmothers (Stephanie Fredericks as Thistle, Kendra Munger as Glinda, Nell Teare as Moonflower) to facilitate a heroic act that will become the newest fairy tale. Surprisingly, the current centennial assignment instead goes to klutzy Hazel (Rachel Genevieve), who previously screwed up but is given a second chance.
Poor Hazel gets more than she bargained for when dashing Prince Copernicus (Christopher Maikish) reveals that the person he loves and must rescue from a tower guarded by a dragon is handsome Prince Helio (Patrick Gomez). This causes homophobic Minerva to show her true colors, as she cooks up a scheme to thwart Copernicus' victory. Will true love conquer all, and will new generations of children learn a message of tolerance from the next fairy tale?
The story is overstuffed with subplots and marginally relevant characters. Pugach seems intent on shoehorning in as many fairy-tale references as possible, to the point of diminishing returns. The use of repeated phrases such as "jumping gingerbread" feels contrived, and the long first act loses focus and comedic momentum en route to the play's more satisfying second half.
Delightful performances help compensate. Maikish is dashing and appealing as the unorthodox hero, singing sweetly and bringing an easygoing wit to his portrayal. The amusing Gomez, playing a dude-in-distress with a laid-back attitude, provides a good counterpart. As the bungling do-gooder Hazel, Genevieve displays crisp comic timing, and her soprano voice soars in "Hazel's Lament."
Torrecilla's smart modern variation on classic fairy-tale villainesses is beguiling. Fine supporting turns are given by Charls Sedgwick Hall as the hip Mirror and the voice of the dragon, the three actors playing the godmother wannabes, and Vash Boddie and Ben Caron in other small roles.
Music director–vocal arranger Wayne Moore serves the jaunty score well and choreographer Jeffrey Polk's entertaining dance numbers help energize the proceedings.
Presented by and at the Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Mar. 11–Apr. 24. Thu.–Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m. (323) 957-1884. www.celebrationtheatre.com.
