Standing in the Alley watching all the Cats go by || The Joseph Planta Commentary ||

Standing in the Alley watching all the Cats go by

By JOSEPH PLANTA

Monday, 31 October 2005

VANCOUVER - Feline frivolity reigns at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver with the world premiere of the new musical, Alley Cats. The accomplished cast, headed by Lea DeLaria (Hilda) and Rex Harrington (Tad), strut down a laneway of musical comedy cliché, and song and dance with much energy and ferocity in an attempt to make up for the material's thinness.

DeLaria is an accomplished Broadway performer, with many television credits including guest appearances on Will and Grace and Friends. Harrington is the illustrious dancer from the National Ballet of Canada, recently retired to a career of television credits and now, with Alley Cats, the theatrical stage. The local performers assembled are some of this town's best. Amongst the standout performances include that from Cailin Stadnyk (Felicia), who's versatile and charming; and Peter Jorgensen (Simon), who's lovable and amusing.

The story of Alley Cats is more about an alley, than it is about cats. Sure, there are stuffed cats simulating real ones on stage, but the use of feline creatures is hardly a remarkable metaphor. The backstreet is inhabited by a slew of characters all seemingly gay, who tend to coexist only when one of the lesbians, Hilda, wants to knock down a block of buildings for a pie in the sky project. Hilda, played with great gusto and comedic timing by DeLaria, steals the show in a number of comic double takes, and punchy quips that often break down the fourth wall. She gets a case of the giggles on opening night, but soldiers on funnily, acknowledging that this is more a performance of The Carol Burnett Show than a traditional book musical. DeLaria's soulful singing and over the top stage acrobatics make the show worth seeing. Add to the bill, the musical comedy side of Rex Harrington, who incorporates many of his ballet moves to the show, poking fun at a previous career all in a nod to the zaniness of the show. It's hardly a serious show, but it provides the occasional laugh amidst singing performances and high camp comedy. Jorgensen is entertainingly theatrical and literally out hams the principals in the "To Hold This Love" number in the second act.

Because Alley Cats is more screwball than substantive, its numbers are more an ode to show tunes with a flimsy story constructed around them. Those that seek love generally find it and the consummation is so swift that it's more preordained than attempting to show any sort of development. The choreography by Jeff Hyslop is energetic and builds from the strengths of the performers, namely Harrington. As for the score itself, one would find themselves hard pressed to leave the theatre remembering any of lyrics by B.K. Anderson and K.E. Zemliya, or humming any of the melodies from composer Stephen Smith.

Two particular performances that tended to grow on the audience emanated from Patti Allen (Eunice) and Kirsten Van Ritzen (Estelle). Their unique interpretations of these supporting players evoked slight glimmers of Elaine Stritch and Georgia Engel. The cast of characters include the dog Toklass, in the role of Rayne, but I don't remember seeing her on opening night. The parts played by Denis Simpson and Simon Webb, seemed the most human, yet appeared marginalised, either underused or underdeveloped, or if they did make a sensible point, it was discounted quickly to affect a moment of jokey double entendre or cheap laugh.

Alley Cats is an entertaining effort, that doesn't attempt to change the world as much as it presupposes the acceptance of a society awash with gay characters. They are characters who, surprisingly enough, are seemingly confounded with the same relationship issues-growing old, finding love, losing it, finding oneself-that all traditional musical characters seem to grapple with. It rings perhaps an all too hopeful tune what with the characters all seemingly of non-heterosexual persuasion. To them their homosexuality is incidental. The love songs are about love, and don't differentiate between the gay or straight variety of love. In a show that's a little too comic-book zany and over the top, such messages are drowned out, and allow for being discounted automatically.

***

Alley Cats: The Musical starring Lea DeLaria and Rex Harrington, with Patti Allan, Zeyn Ali, Gustavo Febres, Meghan Gardiner, Peter Jorgensen, Irene Karas, Aaron Lau, Gail Matheson, Shawna Parry, Mathew Rossoff, Alvin Sanders, Denis Simpson, Cailin Stadnyk, Kristen Van Ritzen, Gwynyth Walsh, and Simon Webb, directed by Michael Fera, with choreography by Jeff Hyslop, runs until Saturday, 12 November 2005 at the Vogue Theatre (918 Granville).

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