Sex and Sock Puppets

Musical Therapy – Underscore Theatre Company 

 

Theresa, a couples therapist in Chicago, with her own personal problems in maintaining relationships, meets with her clients and encourages them to speak through an assortment of sock puppets that she’s created. One of the young couples she’s counseling includes Ryder, a grown frat boy who lives for sports and boasts an impressive sexual member, and his live-in lover, Liz, a somewhat masculine young lady, who may or may not be gay. Another of her client couples is Timothy, a soft-spoken young man who’s a little frightened and completely turned off by Darcie, his dominatrix darling. She is never satisfied to enjoy a “normal” sexual relationship; Darcie insists that every romantic encounter with Timothy has to involve whips, handcuffs, butt plugs and giant dildos.

In the midst of trying to deal with her clients’ problems, Theresa is fending off demons of her own. She’s continually haunted by the continual sharp criticism from her mother. Then too, Theresa has a list of picky principles for her prospective boyfriend. She also has a growing box of sock puppets, the product of her frustration and crafting therapy.

One day, a handsome, charming young guy named William stops by her office. He brings Theresa some mail that was accidentally delivered to his office. Suddenly the therapist has found her Mr. Wonderful, and the game is on. Everything else is thrown out the window as Theresa does everything in her power to seduce and land this guy. When the therapist discovers that Will is already in a loving relationship with a pretty girl named Beth, the game becomes more challenging. She decides to drive a wedge between Will and Beth, as well as with all her clients, so that she can rearrange these couples and then swoop in to claim Will for her own. But, as they say, complications arise.

This offbeat, adult musical comedy is the product of two extremely talented area artists. Joey Katsiroubas, an instructor and music director for Second City, composed the score and lyrics and serves as Musical Director for the production; Dan Hass, a Chicago-based comedy writer, collaborated with his longtime buddy to write the book. The show features such toe-tapping numbers as “The Best Night of Our Lives,” “Win in Love,” “If She Knew” and the perky “Pride Parade.”

The show debuted last year at Chicago’s Gorilla Tango, where it was well-received. Always striving to improve the piece, Katsiroubas, Hass and Director Madison Smith, with smart, bouncy choreography by Katelyn Stoss, entered their production in this year’s Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. It remains to be seen how this musical will be judged by the end of the three week run; but the night this reviewer attended this show, it was completely sold out. That, and the thundering ovation, speaks volumes.

Madison Smith and Joey Katsiroubas are fortunate to have some extremely talented musical theatre performers among their cast. As Theresa, Alex Madda is a bundle of dynamite. Ms. Madda is not only a magnificent, accomplished singer, with a voice that rivals powerhouse performers, like Idina Menzel; this young lady has a natural style of acting and sharp comic timing that truly makes this production sing. Alex will remind theatergoers of a young Jennifer Aniston, in her best performances as Rachel of television’s “Friends.” The actress has a way of broadcasting a funny quip and then softly undercutting it with another, even funnier line. Audiences will be looking forward to seeing this gifted young musical actress in other future Chicago area productions.

Each of the female supporting cast is sublime. Kirby Gibson is quite lovely and supremely strong and confident as strong-willed Liz. She belts out her music with melodic ease. Ms. Gibson easily dominates in her shaky relationship with Ryder (humorously-played by Matt Lamson). Sophie Scanlon is another force of nature, as Darcie. Her pure voice rings out loud and clear, particularly in her duets with Tommy Ross, as the reticent Timothy. And as Beth, Ashlyn Seehafer is deliciously divine, especially in her powerful Act II duet with Alex Madda. The best performance by the gentlemen comes from James Bleecker, as William. His mellow solo vocals and smoothly blended harmonies make this handsome fellow a standout and one more reason to see this production.

While all the votes aren’t cast at this point, “Musical Therapy” should be among the most accoladed of the seven productions in this year’s Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. The play still needs some additional work here and there, but that’s one of the reasons for this festival. Right now, the final scene feels a little forced and contrived. It lacks honesty and a satisfying conclusion for a story that deserves a better ending. But that can be fixed. With its catchy score, diverse characters, adult language and sexually explicit interludes, this comically entertaining, two-act musical is a playful pageant of sex, sock puppets and show-stopping musical performances that should have a long, popular future.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

 

Presented February 11, 16, 22, 24 & 25 by the Underscore Theatre Company’s 2018 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.

Tickets for all seven productions and the two staged readings are available at the box office or by going to www.cmtf.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.