On one of the big theater websites, they have reader blogs for NYMF shows. The following blog reviewing the Brain was fun enough to share:
Aliens trying to take over Earth, will-benders, audience participation, and "feel-o-rama" (where audience members can feel what the characters feel) -- it's all part of The Brain From Planet X!
Fred and Joyce Bunson (Rob Evan and Amy Bodnar) are a typical nuclear family living in the San Fernando Valley in the '50s. He is a determined inventor, and she is a typical, doting housewife. Into this conflict-free environment, a UFO drops in, containing the ruler of Planet X, a large brain (Barry Pearl), and his minions, Zubrick (Cason Murphy), who gets a *tad* annoyed at humans' "stupidity," and Yoni (Alet Taylor), who greatly enjoys the male human physical anatomy. They are supposedly evolved humans, who rely solely on intelligence, and see no need for feelings, love, or family. They plan to take over the planet, and eraticate humans of these weak entities. Fred leads the team to prevent this alien take over, but will the aliens get a hold of Joyce to foil Fred's plan?
The show is appropriately campy, silly, and fun. There is an added level of audience interaction, both through the use of the aforementioned "feel-o-rama," and because one "lucky" audience member gets to have his brain tapped (which is of course accompanied by a company-wide tap dance). I was one of the audience members in consideration, but The Brain dubbed me "too smart." Takes one to know one, I guess. (This has also provided me with a wonderful lead-in to a story: since The Brain is played by Barry Pearl, who played "Doody" in the Grease movie, I've been telling my friends: "Doody says I'm too smart!)
The show makes absolutely no attempt to take itself seriously, which would not at all be appropriate in this wacky spoof. The title song is spoofy (don't care if it's not a word) and appropriate, complete with a perfect final pose each time it is reprised. The act one closer, "Now," is truly a powerful moment: each character we have encountered puts their own spin on how things will turn out...it's almost as if they're singing about what happens...in one more day...or something like that. (If there is any doubt, the characters all begin marching as the characters in Les Miz do at the end of the first act). I've decided something I love about these shows is the little references to other musicals. It's very likely that some audience members are theatre fanatics, such as yours truly, and will get and appreciate the jokes, whereas nothing is taken away from those who don't get them.
The show features several standout performances. The first comes from Amy Bodnar as Joyce. She is great at whatever her role entails, whether it's being a typical suburban housewife, changing her ways and lashing out at her husband and daughter, calling her daughter a bitch, or just staring with a blank expression on her face. The latter, especially, is hysterical every time she does it. Another standout is Cason Murphy as Zubrick. He has an amazing stage presence, and truly turns his two songs into the giant production numbers they are supposed to be. He is a true triple-threat, with some great dancing, a great voice, and certainly wonderful comedic acting. Barry Pearl also deserves mention for his turn as The Brain, if nothing else for creating a character when his head is stuck inside a huge brain, and his body inside a black coat. I couldn't help staring at him, and imaging how frustrating it must be to have no use of your arms and hands.
Oh, and there's a great scene involving hot men naked except for golden swimsuits. Enough said.
There's been a trend in theatre these days, of both adapting movies into musicals, and of overdoing satire/ironic mentions. While The Brain From Planet X indulges in both of these practices, it works where this show is concerned. I mean with the title of the show, what do you expect, the next Sweeney Todd? The show is sure to put you in a good mood, and even manages to leave you with a heartfelt message about the importance of family, and of not complaining when things aren't bad. Not to mention an important moral: men should get their own beer. What more could you want from a show entitled The Brain From Planet X?
