Imagine Office Space meets Little Shop of Horrors with a twist…and it only gets wilder.
Set in Hatchetfield in 2018 with a vintage vibe, Tom Marsh depicts polite yet direct office worker and everyman Paul. A particular man of few words, Paul is surrounded by people who cannot keep much to themselves until a mysterious astronomical event threatens to change everything.
Directed appealingly by Kari Boutcher with lively music direction by Elias Condakes, Yorick Ensemble continues horror sci-fi musical parody The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals through Saturday, February 22 live and in person at the Plaza Theater in Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. This production is occasionally not limited to the stage, contains adult content and language and runs one hour and 45 minutes with one intermission. Click here for more information and for tickets.
Simply staged with rolling and portable props, The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals is in part a musical, but if you are not a musical fan, do not let that deter you. The production delivers inside jokes for theatre fans as well as its own share of material for those who are not a fan of the genre. It has an appealing vintage flair while still fitting well in its contemporary setting largely due to excellent lighting and sound designer Michael Jay.
Silly, zany, and exceedingly funny fluctuating from cheerful to eerie without taking itself too seriously…at first. The musical numbers often dive head first into the absurd and range from sinister to upbeat and catchy with one example demonstrated in the creepily upbeat and catchy number La Dee Dah Dah Day which comes off cheery before morphing into a trance.
The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals delivers love triangles, family drama and more. Introducing Paul with feigned grandiosity, Marsh is sympathetic as Paul and shares some compelling scene time with Demi Dicarla as intuitive barista Emma. However, Marsh’s best moments have a darker tinge including the tormented struggle he endures in Let it Out.
With the exception of Marsh who exclusively portrays Paul, this bold and enthusiastic cast often uses improvisation to play to the audience while sliding into a number of different roles. Some of the roles may seem random, but will become crystal clear by the end of the production. It is entertaining to place which office coworker might seem all too familiar such as Kelly McGowan as obnoxious Ted or Katie Iafolla as discontented cat sweater-wearing office gossip Charlotte. However, Bradley Boutcher’s Alexa worshipping Professor Hidgens is a delightful scene stealer. Right down to the wild timber in his voice, Boutcher hints at all the mad scientists of 1950s films becoming wackier and more hilarious with each scene and culminating into an outrageous Show Stoppin Number.
The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals has its dark side which can feel uneven at times and is at its best when it is not taking itself too seriously. Approach this production with an open mind. Mixing and inspired by a smorgasbord of genres, it isn’t an easily defined production which leaves room for it to become its own darkly humorous creation that works.
Yorick Ensemble continues horror sci-fi musical parody The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals through Saturday, February 22 live and in person in the Plaza Theater in Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. This production is occasionally not limited to the stage, contains adult content and language and runs one hour and 45 minutes with one intermission. Click here for more information and for tickets.