‘Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation!’

‘FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION!’: Clockwise from left: Immanuel Houston, Aline Mayagoitia, Jenny Lee Stern, Joshua Turchin & Chris Collins-Pisano. Photo: Carol Rosegg

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION!
Created, written & directed by Gerard Alessandrini
At the piano: Fred Barton
Through November 30, 2019
The Triad
158 West 72nd Street
(212) 279-4200, www.ForbiddenBroadway.com

By David NouNou

Gerard Alessandrini, the master of theatrical lampooning—after too long an absence—comes out swinging again and in full force with Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation! It’s always great to see icons and pretentious, overbloated shows, especially musicals, getting skewered and being brought down a few pegs. The difference between previous outings and this venture is his previous endeavors targeted more universally renowned figures that the general public recognized. The latest iteration skewers lesser-known people recognized more by theatre insiders: Amber Gray, Karen Olivo, Mary Testa, Jeremy Pope, Danny Burstein, among many others.

This is not to say that the shows being parodied are unrecognizable. All the big ones are here, from smashes like Hamilton, Hadestown, Moulin Rouge and Dear Evan Hansen to Oklahoma!, Frozen, Beetlejuice and Tootsie. For good measure, there is even a comic homage to Fiddler On the Roof in Yiddish (“Translation!”), a spoof of the F/X TV series “Fosse/ Verdon,” and as an added bonus, Judy Garland complaining about Renee Zellweger playing her in the new biopic film Judy.

The best spoof of the night is “Woke-lahoma.” Mr. Alessandri and his talented cast members eviscerate one of the worst and most pretentious revivals of all time in the send-up of the current version of Oklahoma! from “Oh, What a Miserable Morning” to “Aunt Testa’s Speech.” It is nonstop hilarity and jabs the satirical needle in all the right places. For me this was redemption for the way Oklahoma! was recently desecrated.

“Moulin Rude” capitalizes on the excesses of Moulin Rouge with great impersonations by Aline Mayagoitia as Karen Olivo as Sateen and Chris Collins-Pisano portraying Danny Burstein as Harold Ziegler, the host. The standout performance of the night is Jenny Lee Stern as Judy Garland, bitching about Renee Zellweger’s impersonation of her in the movie Judy and mocking Renee for her interpretation of Roxie in Chicago.  Another highlight of the show is Immanuel Houston playing Jennifer Holliday in the Broadway classic Dreamgirls. If you ever heard a rendition of her “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” there isn’t a note or breath that Mr. Houston doesn’t capture. Ms. Holliday would be proud.

There is so much talent on the stage, thanks to Gerald Alessandrini’s crisp writing and direction, in addition to the four above-mentioned talents. There is the next generation by the name of Joshua Turchin, doing a mean Evan Hansen. It is impossible to mention every skit because it would take away from the viewer’s surprise of what comes next.

After such a lackluster theatrical fall season and equally abysmal times, it’s great to be able to go to a show and just forget your troubles and laugh with unabandoned merriment. I suggest you keep your program entitled “Playkill” instead of Playbill; the artwork on it is a masterpiece. It would make a great poster to frame.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published October 21, 2019
Reviewed at October 20, 2019 press performance.

‘FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION!’: Jenny Lee Stern & Chris Collins-Pisano. Photo: Carol Rosegg

‘FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION!’: (from left to right) Jenny Lee Stern, Immanuel Houston, Aline Mayagoitia and Chris Collins-Pisano. Photo: Carol Rosegg

‘FORBIDDEN BROADWAY-THE NEXT GENERATION!’: (from left to right): Joshua Turchin, Immanuel Houston, Aline Mayagoitia, Chris Collins-Pisano and Jenny Lee Stern. Photo: Carol Rosegg

‘FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION!’: Immanuel Houston (left) & Chris Collins-Pisano. Photo: Carol Rosegg

“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION!’: Aline Mayagoitia. Photo: Carol Rosegg

‘FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION!’: Jenny Lee Stern (left) and Chris Collins-Pisano (right). Photo: Carol Rosegg