Buck Creek Players sci-fi send up is frolicsome camp entertainment

What's most ironic about seeing The Brain From Planet X,  Buck Creek's Players current production, is that it is being presented in what was once a fundamentalist church. Now of course this structure serves as home for this far southeast side community theatre company, known for its adventurousness

Continuing next weekend, April, 23-25, this irreverent, over the top, spoof, musical tribute to sci-fi movies of the1950's, with its purposely cheesy sets & props, stylized acting, sexual innuendos, gay references, and tongue in cheek humor, makes for pure entertainment, and a rollicking good time.

Expertly directed by D. Scott Robinson and produced by Lynn B. Robinson, The Brain From Planet X (with music and lyrics by Bruce Kimmel and book by Kimmel and screenwriter David Wechter) recounts the tale of a 1958 invasion by aliens.

 

With a plan to take over the San Fernando Valley (California), and eventually the entire planet, A Brain and its two alien companions start with the picture perfect nuclear family of Fred Bunson an inventor, his homemaker wife Joyce and highly sexed daughter, Donna.

 

Along the way they encounter stock characters such as the military officer, General Mills, his adjunct, Private Partz, Professor Leder, Joyce's elderly father and Donna Bunson's beatnik boyfriend, Rod. Despite their best efforts however, the aliens are thwarted by the stubborn earthlings.

 

With a storyline and plot twists that mirror those of all the films it parodies, The Brain From Planet X has an ending which is predictable yet none-the-less satisfying.

Essentially stealing the show whenever they appeared together on stage, were Craig Underwood as The Brain, Daniel Robert as Zubrick, and Erin M. Rettig as Yoni.

Playing his character with a haughty and regal grandness, Underwood, was the perfect "straight" man to the machinations of Robert whose Zubrick was a whacked out cross between Will & Grace's Jack MacFarland and the late comedian/actor Paul Lynde.

Completing the obvious chemistry amongst this highly engaging trio was Rettig who infused her sex pot Yoni with the sauciness of Anne Margaret and the comic timing of Madeline Kahn.

While performing together in their production numbers, The Plan, and its reprise, Underwood, Robert and Rettig were masterful in both voice and movement as they executed vaudeville inspired choreography that was perfectly suited to the overall tone of the proceedings.

Other standouts were Stacey 'Jack' Johnson as Fred Bunson, and Kelsee B. Hankins as his wife Joyce. Possessing superb singing voices and acting abilities, the two were highly effective in capturing the period and genre style in both attitude and delivery.

 

Also appealing was, Maria Meschi as their daughter Donna who was also effective in switching between an innocent ingénue and a secret Lolita.

Others deserving recognition for their contributions were David; K. Dulhanty who played dual roles as the narrator and Professor Leder and Steve Hermanson as General Mills.

Keeping in mind the talent pool is sometimes limited within the non-professional theatre arena; and that in this case, all participants both on and off the stage are completely volunteer--- the positives of this production far outweighed the negatives.

The large cast included some performers playing smaller roles that only accentuated their limitations. Nevertheless, the uneven quality of those performances did not detract greatly from the overall quality of the production itself.

On the positive side, the technical and musical aspects of the production were outstanding and in some cases nearly flawless--- making for a creative endeavor that was both polished and professional.

Now in its 36th year of operation, Buck Creek Players continues its On The Home Front season with Ghosts, June 4-13 and Alice in Wonderland, July 30-August 8, 2010. For more information call at 317/862-2270 or visit their website at www.buckcreekplayers.com.