a troubie reinvention: rudolph the rednosed reindoors · a “rudolph the red-nosed reindeer”...
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
A Troubie Reinvention: Rudolph theRedNosed ReinDOORS
Molly Alvarez (Clarice), Matt Walker (Donner), Steven Booth (Rudolph), Beth Kennedy
(Blitzen), Rick Batalla (Santa) & Lisa Valenzuela (Mrs. Claus). Photos by Chelsea Sutton.
Tickets for the annual Troubadour Theatre Company holiday shows areconsistently some of the most sought after in L.A. and loyal Troubie fansknow to get them early. Each show delivers the company’s unique brandof theatre magic wrapped up in circus ribbons, physical theatrics,dazzling music, and that trademark fearless swan dive into the depths ofimprovised comedy. All that to say that it’s one crazy good time for bothaudience and actors.
This year’s holiday treat takes the famous story of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and mixes it with the music of Jim Morrison and theDoors to create a new Christmas one-of-a-kind favorite, Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReinDOORS. Picture Rick Batalla reinventing the lizard king asSanta Claus, bare-chested, without his Ho Hos (they’re hard to get rightnow), in red spandex and plenty of attitude, and then picture him later inan ‘80s purple unitard as Moonracer, the Lion King on the Island of
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Dan Waskom and Paul C. Vogt
Misfit Toys and you’ll get the idea. He’s a smart retort just waiting tohappen and, as you’d expect, he happens all over the stage.
Sharon McGunigle’s costumes give the players the visual liftoff that helpsthese characters jump off the page. Hermey’s (Kyle Nudo) bright yellowlarger than life comb over wave, Sam the Snowman’s (Paul C. Vogt)dropped crotch snow suit, Blitzen’s (Beth Kennedy) fluorescent greenpillow baby bump, and Mrs. Claus’s (Lisa Valenzuela) Paula Dean wig allprovide opportunity for comedy just by existing onstage. And if you givethis gang an opening for a joke, you can be certain they’ll go after it witheverything they’ve got.
It’s a tall order trying to top last year’s wildly successful A ChristmasWestside Story, which featured unparalleled production numbers(choreographed by Molly Alvarez, who also provides the great dancemoves in Rudolph) and a perfect marriage of story and humor like noTroubie show before. But each show has its own distinctive style anddirector Matt Walker and the gang have taken a sweeter, more intimatedirection with Rudolph that accentuates the storytelling while stilldelivering the Troubies’ high-energy ability to delight the senses. Plus, theregulars are in fine form and don’t disappoint.
As the charming narrator, Vogtgives us his folksy-funny spin onBurl Ives’ Sam the Snowman,covering the many transitionsbetween scenes. Andy Lopezplays a hysterical Little Elf (oneof the many sight gags that arewell worth their short stage time)who blows in the wind in Santa’ssleigh. Kennedy is the perfectlittle homemaker (um, not) asRudolph’s mother, Blitzen, andWalker does double duty asCharlie-in-the-Box on the Islandof Misfit Toys and also playsRudolph’s hard-headed dad,Donner.
Donner’s psychedelic trip is oneof the two sensational big scenesin the show. This one comescomplete with an all-out circusrendezvous featuring a lovelyaerial hoop sequence by CarolineGross and a myriad of circustricks, juggling sequences, andmagic tricks that even includesWalker doing some platespinning with the audience.
The other is the climactic scenein which Rudolph takes to theskies with his glowing red nose to
save Christmas. Blitzen’s Tab addiction almost does Kennedy in but she
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*The Addams Family Segerstrom
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Steven Booth and Molly Alvarez
rallies in time to set up ground control (with a little help from a memberof the audience) and goes in for the assist to make sure we have a happyending. Even Dan Waskom as Bomi, the Abominable Snow Monster, getshis shining moments. On tall stilts, and covered head to toe in white furryfleece that must have taken an entire bolt of fabric, he quite literallycommands the stage. There are a few larger than life Abominable gagsthat are fun and unexpected, just like you’d hope to see from theTroubies, and if you haven’t already heard about them, I’m not going tospoil the surprise here.
And yet it’s the romanticsweetness of Clarice (MollyAlvarez) and Rudolph (StevenBooth) that gives thisheartwarming tale its traditional“awww” factor. The pair areabsolutely adorable and you’llfall in love with every pretty doe-eyed glance and shy smile theyexchange.
Candy-coated stage designs andwhimsical lighting effects byJeffrey McLaughlin and JeremyPivnick, respectively, makeRudolph glow like a winterwonderland. Eric Heinly's houseband also never disappoints,rocking out on re-imagined songsby The Doors that include “HelloI Love You,” “TouchMe,” “Riders on theStorm,” “Don’t You Love HerMadly,” “Light MyFire,” and “Break on Through(To The Other Side).”
There is one non-DOORS tunethat makes an appearance in theshow, and well it should. As thefinale joins cast and audience ina “Rudolph the Red-NosedReindeer” sing-along, it’s onemore holiday show in the booksfor Walker and his comedy
commandos of Toluca Lake. An annual holiday tradition for localsanywhere in a 50-mile radius, make sure you get your tickets and get inon the jokes now…before these ReinDOORS go down in history.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReinDOORSThe Troubies @ the Falcon TheatreTickets: (818) 955-91014252 Riverside Drive, Burbank, CAwww.falconTheatre.comwww.troubie.com
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