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The Teapot Scandals
Book, Music & Lyrics by Jon Steinhagen
Directed by Steve Scott
Musical Direction by Nick Sula
Choreographed by Brenda Didier
Produced by Porchlight Music Theatre
At the Theatre Building Chicago
1225 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-327-5252, tickets $20
Thursdays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 5 pm
Sundays at 6 pm
(In repertory with Assassins)
Running time is 100 minutes with no intermission
Through March 10, 2007
Tuneful and naughty political vaudevillian spook
Porchlight Music Theatre, experts in offering terrific shows in the intimate Theatre Building Chicago stages, has the perfect compliment to their intense production of Assassins in the world premier of the hilarious musical vaudeville, The Teapot Scandals. Local Chicago actor, musical arranger and composer, Jon Steinhagen has penned a clever show based on the 1932 scandals of President Warren G. Harding. This enhances Porchlight’s theme of musicals of the American experience.
This delightfully entertaining show is a musical comedy lover’s dream. It is in the style of those fine revues such as the George White Scandals of the roaring ‘20’s. Set in the 1920’s, Teapot is a show-within-a-show format where the actors are rehearsing a revue about President Harding. We see many of the zany characters from Harding’s life and his Administration. Showgirls, magic acts, presidential infidelities including the president having sex in a closet, a domineering first lady who listens to a astrologer, The Teapot Scandals unfolds as a fast paced, tunefully hilarious show. The musical styles of the era, ragtime, and jazz, Charleston together with cute dance styles complete with canes and straw-hat with strong ballads and stirring anthems performed with period-perfect choreography by Brenda Didier. Steinhagen’s lyrics are witty, rhyming with touches of stinging satire and raunchiness that produces rich humor. If you tune-in to these terrific lyrics, you’ll laugh at his perceptive wit. This guy can write outstanding lyrics—he even makes foul language and potty references work.
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The cast has many excellent performances. From Michael Rosenblum to Eric Bramlett to Brandon Dahlquist (terrific as the clueless Harding) to Elizabeth Haley, Sarah Hayes, Marc Pera, Thomas M. Shea, Melissa Zimmerman to the sexy Tawny Newsome—a true ensemble show emerges. This show is a gem—a rare new work so polished, so tight (credit director Steve Scott) and so entertaining. I laughed and smiled throughout as I became immersed in the scandals of a corrupt Republican President. The cycle of mayhem, indeed, does repeat itself. Who said a political show can’t sing and dance and be funny? The Teapot Scandals is a treat and a bargain at $20 per ticket. Have fun!
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2007
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