The Sum of Us

Tonight @ The Broadway Theatre Center, 4 & 8 p.m.

Feb. 21, 2009

midnight

In the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s latest presentation, The Sum of Us, a widower lives with his similarly unattached son, comfortable with the fact that his son is gay. The woman that he begins dating, however, isn’t nearly as accepting of his son’s lifestyle. The gentle father-son dramedy from David Stevens continues its month-long run at the Broadway Theatre Center today with 4 and 8 p.m. performances.

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I can see why this musical is such a runaway succ...

I can see why this musical is such a runaway success. "Wicked" perfectly encapsulates the zeitgeist of The Aughties, or whatever we're calling this dismal past decade. Happy people are narcissistic, government is incompetent, music is zippy, fear is a political tool, success is a measure of exploitation, and dissent is tantamount to treason. "Wicked" is the "beautifully tragic" green face of America, and the crowds love it.
The charm of "Wicked" is in the lightness of its cynicism. The basis of the story recasts one of moviedom's classic villains as an underdog do-gooder, driving the point that good and evil have no distinction. Tapping the brand recognition of a pop culture icon while stripping away the moral context is a powerful recipe for commercial appeal meant to interest all but offend none. The concept is a boardroom wet dream.
The production is supremely careful in catering to a broad audience. The songs are the type of pop fodder favored by American Idol, the soundtrack a commercial success of its own. The lavish sets and costumes are designed to satiate the most materialistic of appetites. Much of the humor is derived from Glinda's one-dimensionality, so jokes are simple enough to be easily tracked by the slowest of wits. Even the cautionary tale aspect of the story that warns of the dire consequences of straying from the beaten path is muted by Elphaba's tacked-on consolation prize of a happy ending. The show is theatrical Prozac.
"Wicked" is an extremely entertaining show that easily earns its place as the extra value meal #1 of mainstream McTheater. It more than satisfies the hunger cravings for diversion, but it shouldn't be mistaken for real sustenance.

Anonymous more than 14 years ago