Theater Reviews

Dec 20, 2004 - "Ruthless," the musical, is a great big hit at Reno's Bruka Theatre

By Jack Neal

Imagine, if you can, Shirley Temple pushing Judy Garland off a camera boom so she could play Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz." If you can imagine that - and enjoy what you're imagining - then you would have loved the Bruka Theatre Company's musical murder farce, "Ruthless."

I loved Judy Garland in "Oz," and - of course - Shirley Temple doing her "Good Ship Lollypop" routines, but I also loved "Ruthless." It's very funny. It's also very closed. It's being reviewed here because it was just too good not to give credit where credit is due.

Such is the business of reviewing in December with a myriad of different "Christmas Carols" and "Nutcrackers" dancing in everyone's head. "Ruthless" was one of the shows crossed off my list for lack of time. I'd never heard of the show and Bruka's history with musicals hadn't been all that good (sorry, about that), so scrap it.

Until, that is, I got a call from a woman who said she thought the show was just too good for me to miss and she'd like to know what I thought. "Would I see it?" She asked. She'd pay for my ticket, she said. So I decided I would see it. You've guessed it I'm sure. The call was from the mother of the show's precocious ten-year-old star. The mother really isn't a stage mother, just interested in someone else's take on her daughter's talent.

Her daughter, Connor Norton, does have talent. Lots of it. And so does everyone else associated with this wonderful show-business farce about a group of stars who'll do anything - including murder - to have their moment at center stage.

"Ruthless's" book and lyrics are by Joel Paley and are hilarious in a dark, very silly way. Marvin Laird provides the music and its wonderful in a derivative kind of way, and that's as it should be. Paley and Laird populate their show with words and music worthy of Ethel Merman, Tallulah Bankhead and Little Mary Sunshine all smunched into six delicious and hammy female starring roles worthy of Auntie Mame and Vera Charles at their most over-the-top and outrageous.

That Connor Norton held her own (and then some) with five of Northern Nevada's most spotlight hogging performers, was a major miracle. But she did. Norton delivers lines like the zingers they are with great timing and oodles of chutzpah. The even better news is that she can sing and dance like the little girl with the long blond curls who captured the heart of America during the depression. Director Scott Beers could not have staged "Ruthless" without a child star of Norton's caliber. She was a terrific Tina Denmark, the kid star who does more than elbow her way to the top.

Norton was surrounded by five dynamite talents who were perfect in every way save one. More about the "save one" later.

Amy Ginder played Tina's mom, Judy Denmark, turned Broadway star, Ginger Delmarco, after Tina was sent off to reform school. Ginder gave a knockout performance in every way. She provided two entirely different characterizations (one for mom and one for the star) and she was sensational at both.

As stage critic ("I hate musicals, I hate ballet") Lita Encore, Karen Chandler belts like Merman and comes off as a female John Simon with a poison pen and fast lip that was one laugh, snort and giggle after another. Chandler's performance soared into that legendary realm of stage performances saved for only the most adroit actors and singing comedians.

Janine Burgener (double cast as Louise Lerman and Eve) and Debra Lynn Hull (double cast as Myrna Thorne and Emily Brock) deliver equally top drawer and very funny characterizations.

Adam Whitney played Sylvia St. Croix, the show's linchpin role, in drag and he's a major talent loaded with all kinds of sight-gag antics. But, alas, Whitney's work is the "save one" that is the show's only drawback. Whitney needs a director who will say "enough already" and hem his way, way, way over-the-top talent in. Whitney throws the pace of the show out of whack by mugging endlessly in what was often marveloulsy funny, but what became more than a bit tiresome before the final curtain.

Scott Beers's direction, with the exception of Whitney, was fast and just right. The band, directed by Bill Quinby (with Art Hafen on piano, Mark Campbell on bass and Larry Snyder on drums) was excellent - the best the Bruka Theatre has had in its pit that I can remember. Lewis Zaumeyer's set design was functional and fun. The costume creations by Janine Burgener and Adam Whitney were worth the price of admission and then some. But, then, so was the whole show. If "Ruthless" ever comes back, it's a must for anyone interested in theater and a grand good time.

"Ruthless" played the Bruka Theatre, 99 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada weekends through December 19 (2004). For future Bruka Theatre presentations call 775-323-3221.