 "Photo: Illustration by Ryan Muta")
When a good laugh is in order, don’t turn on the TV — go see a musical.
In “Gilligan’s Island: The Musical,” each original character from the classic TV series is played by an outstanding cast. The musical at Paradise’s Theatre on the Ridge is full of talent and voices that bring down the house.
Brandon Larson as “Gilligan” bears a striking resemblance to the original actor and kept the audience chuckling even when he was not the center of the action. Whether he was getting stuck in a yo-yo string, comparing a kiss to a vacuum cleaner or turning the word “artifact” into “architect,” Larson kept audience members anticipating Gilligan’s next hysterical act.
“Overall, this is the most fun I’ve ever had,” said Larson in an e-mail interview.
“Ginger Grant,” played by Allison Rich, impressed the audience with her deep voice and exotic look. She used her wit and charm to perform monologues about Ginger’s past productions and attempted to seduce the “Professor.”
Rich Holst as the Professor remarkably spit out large and complex words one after another, leaving the audience and Gilligan wondering what the heck he was talking about. But for all of his intelligence, the Professor was still oblivious to Ginger’s seductive butterfly lashes and plunging necklines. As he got more frustrated that he could not figure out how to get seven people off an island, he taught Gilligan to spell and used his extensive knowledge to make rockets and decipher hieroglyphics.
“Mrs. Howell,” played by Brianne Hidden, never let the audience forget how rich her family really is. She does, however, kindly donate her gold and nail polish to help get the group off the island. Hidden’s voice could crack a window if she let it go high enough. But she was graceful and she played an excellent Mrs. Howell.
“Mr. Howell,” played by J. Patrick Rogers, on the other hand, is snobby and somewhat of a coward. He seemed to supervise the whole island, resisting mergers and hostile takeovers and laid claim to his own “Howell Harbor.”
“Mary Ann Summers” was played by Courtney Hatcher, who gives a big voice out of a little body. Gilligan called Mary Ann the nicest person on the island and eventually — and predictably — the two fell in love.
“I love the relationships that ensue and grow in the musical,” Hatcher said. “Mary Ann, the Professor and Ginger and even the Howells. It’s interesting to watch years later, after the show aired, to see where the very different seven strangers are now.”
Bob King’s “Skipper,” for instance, got more and more irritated by Gilligan’s stupidity as the musical progressed until his sympathy finally surfaced. He was voted in charge by the crew and passengers of the “S.S. Minnow” and kept them all from driving each other crazy.
Even with the cheesy songs and simple “golden rule” message, “Gilligan’s Island: The Musical” was not overwhelmingly childish. Song lyrics did contain spelling lessons and “stick together” themes, but it didn’t feel like watching “Sesame Street” turned “Gilligan’s Island.” The play strikes a nice balance between elementary humor, adult sexuality and big words.
The last chance to see the musical is Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Nicole Landini can be reached at
nlandini@theorion.com
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