The Broadway Ferret

Image from [title of show]

Rating: 3 out of 5 masks

No, it’s not the start of a theatre version of the “Who’s on first?” joke.  That really is the title of the show.

This show has a small cast made up of Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, Heidi Blickenstaff and Susan Blackwell.  The plot involved Hunter and Jeff trying to write a musical for a theatre festival in three weeks.  While they’re fleshing out the show, they hold auditions for the female roles, played by Heidi and Susan.  The story goes from the idea to write the show, the show going to off-Broadway and finally, their dream, Broadway.

What I really like about the show is that it shows the process of taking a show to Broadway.  The story is not sugarcoated as we see the frustrations of aligning everyone’s schedules to rehearse the show and how everyone except for Hunter decides to go back to their jobs, losing hope that the show would go to Broadway.

I thought that all of the performers were really talented, especially Heidi, when she has her solo.  I loved how they would occasionally converse would the keyboardist, Larry Pressgrove, who provides the music.  I really liked how the show made all these inside jokes regarding theatre.  I found the inside jokes that I did get hilarious, especially the bit where Hunter and Jeff decided to make as much of their show as exciting as they can.  I loved how they incorporated the names of shows on various Playbills into a song.  It was only until later did I realize that the Playbills that were featured came from actual shows.  I wonder if they did this to prove that almost anything can be seen on Broadway. 

My absolute favorite part was, in order to cover the scene changes, when messages from various Broadway veterans would play on the machine declining to be in Hunter and Jeff’s show.  They ranged from polite to one step from issuing a restraining order.  They were all hilarious.

My only problems with the show included the inside jokes that I didn’t get.  It almost seems like you need to be a theatre historian or the ultimate theatre fan to get all of the jokes.  I liked the length of the show, but I thought they should have covered more of their lives.

This show is perfect for fans of theatre and anyone who wants to know what it’s like to put a show on Broadway or is just curious about the process.

Running time: 90 minutes, no intermission