Based upon the popular educational TV videos, "Schoolhouse Rock" reminds us that learning can be fun, especially in the playhouse. Catchy, entertaining songs and choreography offer lessons on grammar, social studies, math and science, but unfortunately, the execution is a muddled mess.
The first problem lies in the script, packed with far too many facts about inventions and inventors that fly past the audience at breakneck speed. Crammed into 90 minutes are dozens of facts about the small pox vaccine, the whoopee cushion, the sewing machine and other "people and things that make the world a better place (most of the time)." While this might be fine in small doses, an entire show paced this fast simply overwhelms.
Second City-like blackout sketches begin and end so quickly that the viewers lack the chance to comprehend what they’ve seen, and the props like portraits and inventions tend to be too small to have an effect.
In addition, the talent on stage varies drastically. You might expect that a show playing since mid-February would have a degree of slickness, but such is not the case. A few of the actors (Jennifer Estlin, James Asmus and Josh Walker) do as best as could be expected given the material, but others seem unsure, disoriented or simply running on autopilot.
The most memorably clever bit has each of the eight cast members representing a component of the iPod to explain one of the latest, greatest Apple inventions. The audience to ask questions of the cast, and with a cabaret bar service available throughout the evening, the questions keep on coming.
Reviewed by Centerstage!
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