by: Sandi Durell
If you read all the Grey books and enjoyed the trip searching for your inner Goddess and want more than a vanilla existence, try “50 Shades! The Musical” for some amusement.
In this takeoff on E.L. James’s best sellers, the writers (members of the comedy troupe Baby Wants Candy) of this parody get to say, describe and offer up every pornographic word, idea and visual conceit that their imagination could conjure and more.
Certainly the ladies in the audience laughed the most, when they laughed, as the three bored housewives of the book club, Carol (Ashley Ward), Pam (Chloe Williamson) and Bev (Kaitlyn Frotton) fantasized every detail as they read the lascivious book letting their imaginations run wild. Big eyed and voiced Amber Petty plays Anastasia, the virgin who works at a hardware store, and is egged on to experience sexual pleasures which couldn’t be more evident than in her opening song “There’s a Hole Inside Me.”
Most all the songs are sexually descriptive and don’t leave anything to the imagination. So when Ana meets Christian Grey (Chris Grace), who is a tubby Billionaire (picture a smaller version of a summa wrestler), she is taken, literally, as her inner Goddess awakens. He wants dominance and bondage and doesn’t like being touched. In fact, he wants her to sign a big bulging contract allowing him to do anything he wants to her. There isn’t one part of the body that doesn’t get mentioned in the list song Christian sings “I Don’t Make Love” – as he prances around in a stretchy wrestling uniform that clearly shows off his large belly and more. Not exactly every woman’s fantasy but if you’re gonna spoof, go for it!
One of the numbers is a send up anthem to “Les Miz” and there’s actually one pretty rock ballad without a four letter word, “How Much Can I Take?”
Pretty Chloe Williamson is a stand out both vocally and on the eyes, and Kaitlyn Frotton, who doubles as Ana’s dirty talking roommate, is a hoot while poor Carol (Ashley Ward), recently deserted by her husband, as the one step behind frumpy housewife who finally gets it, is amusing. Tim Murray who plays Jose, a would-be Latin lover of Ana’s, is spicy and fun.
The scantily clad Inner Goddess, Casey Rogers, 6-pack Alec Varcas and Adam Hyndman make up the rest of the cast who join in the prancing merriment (choreography Mindy Cooper), clothed in tacky and tackier (costumes John Dunnett) as the cast is accompanied by a rockin’ trio of musicians – Michael Thomas Murray (Musical Director/Keyboard), Michael Shapiro (drums) and Lavondo Thomas (bass). The show is directed by Al Samuels and Rob Lindley.
The show runs . . . 69 minutes (plus a 15 minute intermission) – – why? So the audience can visit the bar just outside the theater.
If your preference is tacky, lewd and racy then you might enjoy “50 Shades” now at the Elektra Theatre at Times Square Arts Center, 300 West 43rd Street – 866 811-4111 – 50shadesthemusical.com
*Photos: Carol Rosegg
