The "parental advisory" for the faux musical Oedipus for Kids! cautions that it "contains eye gouging, incest, and manslaughter." This is one of the most anticipated shows in the third annual New York Musical Theatre Festival; two performances have already been added to its sold-out schedule.
Don't believe the hype. The title is the funniest part of this 90-minute exercise in poorly executed lowbrow theatre. The concept runs a close second: The Hoboken, N.J.-based Fuzzy Duck Theatre Company tours classics for kids (including Uncle Tommy's Cabin and Titus Andronicus Bakes a Cake), and its newest production is a musical version of Oedipus Rex.
Fuzzy Duck consists of megalomaniacal artistic director Gavin Lewis, ditzy aspiring actor Reed Prescott, and the horny, man-eating Laura "Catalina" Jordan; the three write, direct, and perform all their material. Those are also the names of the real actors -- but they didn't write the musical. Confused? The program says they wrote it, but that's the program-within-the-program, silly. The NYMF production is by Kimberly Patterson (book), Gil Varod (book and lyrics), and Robert J. Saferstein (music).
The real-life trio admits to writing the first draft in 10 days -- and it shows. With 12 weakly sung numbers, this limp show is far too long -- plus everyone knows that children's theatre rarely includes an intermission. Jokes about Trojans (the condom brand) and blind people (they can't see!) sink so low, one starts to pine for Oklahoma!, Hello, Dolly!, or any other musical with an exclamatory title. If Oedipus for Kids! represents the future of musical theatre, as the NYMF producers allege, let's heed Ira Gershwin's advice and "call the whole thing off."
Presented by Rake Theater as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival
at the Sage Theatre, 711 Seventh Ave., NYC.
Sept. 16-25. Remaining performances: Wed., Sept. 20, 8 p.m.; Fri., Sept. 22, 11 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 24, 4:30 p.m.; and Mon., Sept. 25, 8 p.m.
(212) 352-3101 or www.theatermania.com.