REVIEW by ANTHONY CHASE
The long-running off-Broadway hit Forbidden Broadway has made its way to Shea's 710 Theater, and is offering Buffalo theatergoers a hilarious romp through the world of musical theater. "Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation" is just the latest incarnation of this long-running satirical revue by Gerard Alessandrini, which has been skewering Broadway shows since 1982 and has seen numerous iterations, including the Hollywood-focused "Forbidden Hollywood," the Tony Award-winning "Forbidden Broadway: Alive and Kicking!" in 2012, and the recent "Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song" in 2024, each time updating its parodies to lampoon the latest trends and productions in musical theater.
The current tour of the show boasts a cast of seasoned "Forbidden Broadway" veterans who bring their considerable talents to bear on a wide range of musical theater targets.
Gina Kreiezmar, a longtime fixture of the show, delivers a standout performance with her impersonations of Sarah Brightman and Ethel Merman. Her renowned Liza Minnelli impression, without which older gay audiences would rebel -- every growl, altered vowel, and sibilant “s” honed over years with the production -- remains a highlight, as does her sardonic and world-weary send up of Andrea McArdle as an over-the-hill Annie, a classic and beloved holdover from the early years of this revue.
Exhaustingly energetic Chris Collins-Pisano, fresh from the New York production and a stint in a "Friends" musical parody, brings down the house with his takes on "Dear Evan Hansen,” “Les Misérables,” and "Moulin Rouge." His impressive vocal talent enables him to do wicked justice to his targets, with his barbs at Ben Platt landing with particular accuracy.
Katheryne Penny showcases her remarkable range, her seemingly effortless voice soaring fluidly through her "Les Misérables" bits and a side-splitting "Frozen" send-up. Her Bernadette Peters impression verges on the uncanny and could earn her a court order to “cease and desist” from the Queen of Broadway!
Kevin B. McGlynn completes the quartet, bringing a touch of gravitas to his roles before diving headlong into outrageous comedy. He tackles challenging material with aplomb, including Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, and a Robert Goulet impression from which he manages to score laughs despite performing to an audience in which many might be unfamiliar with the reference. Trust me, I saw Goulet's Emile deBecque opposite Barbara Eden's Nellie Forbush back in '86; he's killing it, and it's funny by any measure.
Each of these four performers is a consummate clown and demonstrates impressive versatility and comic timing throughout the show. At times the comedy fails to land as powerfully at Shea’s 710 as it would in a more informal cabaret setting. Still, with so much to see in New York, in recent years I have skipped incarnations of Forbidden Broadway, instead catching its new routines in recordings and on Sirius X/M, and so it’s nice that Shea’s 710 has brought the show to my own back yard, and it's a treat that they’ve sent an A-list cast on the road rather than a crew of rookies. (The show works well enough in the formal space).
At the piano, Catherine Stornetta provides flawless musical accompaniment, clearly relishing her role in the proceedings as much as the audience enjoys watching her.
The panoply of hilarious costumes by Alvin Colt and Dustin Cross, which parade a full fashion show of familiar Broadway garments, are changed frequently, invisibly, and as if by magic. The parade of humorous wigs by Kevin B. McGlynn adds great fun to the proceedings.
As the “next generation” of the title might suggest, this touring production mostly focuses on shows that have recently graced the Shea's Performing Arts Center stage, ensuring that most of the material resonates with the theater's loyal Broadway series subscribers. Still, longtime fans adore the classics, and I’m glad they trotted out the Merman bit, which is eternal and a wickedly good vehicle for Kreiezmar. And while I will always adore the Chita/Rita feud, and the goofs on Mary Martin, Carol Channing, Mandy Patinkin, and every Patti LuPone bit they ever did, I guess it’s best to trot out parodies of more recent (and therefore more familiar) parodies on the road.
The show delivers the iconic Forbidden Broadway treatment to a variety of popular musicals, including Les Misérables, The Lion King, Jersey Boys, and The Book of Mormon. It also features a nod to Beetlejuice and they do not fail to include their famed and beloved Sondheim tribute, "Into the Words." While the Hamilton segment falls short of Alessandrini's usual comedic standard, the production regroups with a fresh and funny number starring Katheryne Penny as Idina Menzel, offering commentary on the upcoming Wicked film adaptation.
By keeping the references current and avoiding obscure selections, "Forbidden Broadway" remains accessible and thoroughly entertaining for both casual theatergoers and die-hard Broadway fans alike.
For those seeking a night of laughter and loving parody of the Great White Way, "Forbidden Broadway" presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino at Shea's 710 Theater is a good bet, particularly at less than two hours with intermission. The show runs through this weekend, offering Buffalo audiences a chance to see some of musical theater's sacred cows get a good-natured ribbing from this talented cast.
Performances continue only through this Sunday, February 16th at Shea's 710 Theater.
