Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION is inspired parody, and one of the most consistently hilarious entries in the long-lived series

• By drediman
• November 19, 2019
• No Comments

The company of Gerald Alessandrini’s “Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation” at the Triad Theatre. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

This past weekend at the Triad Theatre, I caught the latest in a long line of entries in Gerard Alessandrini’s revered and invaluable Forbidden Broadway series, this one entitled “The Next Generation”. Given its five-year absence from New York, this newest entry is aptly named as it spoofs the latest crop of Broadway shows (gone are parodies of Broadway warhorses of “old”, like Phantom, Les Miz, Cats, or The Lion King). Indeed, Mr. Alessandrini has turned his merciless gaze on the new musicals and revivals of recent seasons – like Hadestown, Moulin Rouge, Tootsie, Oklahoma!, Frozen, and so forth – although there’s also an extremely funny number poking fun at the Tony-winning play The Ferryman via Finian’s Rainbow (“How are Things in Irish Drama?”). It’s all at once a razor-sharp sendup, as well as an unabashed love letter to Broadway.

I must say, this latest installment in the long-lived Off-Broadway series is inspired comedy, and a welcome return and return to top form for Mr. Alessandrini and his beloved creation. Over the years, Forbidden Broadway’s formula has remained simple and essentially the same, for better or for worse – that is, to shrewdly skewer all things Broadway, including slicing double entendres regarding Broadway trends, its idiosyncratic stars, and of course the shows themselves (particularly as it relates to their deficiencies). Staying within these boundaries, I’m happy to report that “The Next Generation” is one of the freshest, most consistently hilarious and astutely observant of the lot I’ve seen. It’s effectively, efficiently framed and there’s really not a dud amongst its updated, deliciously witty numbers.

As per usual, the musical is scrappily but giddily directed, most of it at breakneck speed, by Mr. Alessandrini. Indeed, plenty of times, I found myself still savoring and chuckling over a joke or visual spoof when the next one barreled itself at me. As for “The Next Generation” cast – Immanuel Houston, Aline Mayagoitia, Jenny Lee Stern, Joshua Turchin, and Chris Collins-Pisano – they’re all fabulous, each of them effortlessly channeling the series’ zany, brutally unsparing spirit. A particular standout is Ms. Stern, whose turn as Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland is spectacularly on point, vocally and comedically.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION
Off-Broadway, Musical
The Triad Theatre
1 hour, 20 minutes (without an intermission)
Through December 1