Cannibal! The Musical Is Deliciously Absurd
Those who thought Urinetown would be the most irreverent musical to hit the D.C. area never bargained for Cannibal!
Landless Theatre Company's latest production (clearly to some degree a satire of Oklahoma!, as its "Shpadoinkle Day" number can only be a send-up of "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning!") follows the unassuming Alferd Packer, who leads a motley crew of gold-seekers into the mountains, where they are met with less-than-desireable circumstances, from a mythical Cyclops to, well, the prospect of having to eat each other to survive. The work, based on a true story in the loosest sense of the phrase, is the brainchild of "Southpark" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and, like their epic "Southpark: The Movie," is a bawdy send-up of the musical genre it occupies.
It'd be easy to nitpick away Landless Theatre's production; there are staging missteps (a solo "tap-synching" number, for example, doesn't work), a chorus lacking a full-bodied sound, and a general amateurish feel that at times calls to mind what might happen if a couple of college theater buddies decided to put on a basement production of a cult favorite like Buffy: The Musical or The Rocky Horror Show. All of these issues, however, are eclipsed by the hilarity of the work itself, the general enthusiasm of the participants, some casting coups and a lot of creativity.
Landless Theatre also deserves a great deal of credit for shifting its production of Cannibal! The Musical with about 24 hours notice from the DC Arts Center to the Universalist church at 16th and S, without too many resulting problems. Unfortunately, the venue change might be to blame for poor timing between the singers and their accompaniment tape (though one wonders if it would have been so difficult to find a live keyboardist instead).
The character at the heart of this work is Packer, embodied with a kind of deadpan grace by Josh Speerstra, whose strong tenor soars through his solo musical numbers, and who sincerely delivers ridiculous songs such as "When I Was On Top of You" (a love ballad to his horse) without too much winking at the audience. Also a delight is Alex Zavistovich as Shannon Bell, a Mormon priest and masculine, Bruce Campbell-esque leader of the group who eventually goes more than a little nutty.
Two scene stealers are Ed Xavier as Frenchy Cabazon, the leader of the trappers (his musical number outlining the trapper lifestyle had the audience laughing to the end) and Momo Nakamura, who plays various members of the Nihonjin tribe (Indians that, naturally, speak Japanese). Jen Tonon also deserves a nod for playing a rather convincing young man, though her line delivery often fell flat. The chorus, while not always gelling vocally, is responsible for many of the show's funniest moments, from halfhearted jazz hands, hilarious dance dream sequences, and inspired usage of spray water bottles (wielded by audience members).
Don't show up to Landless Theatre's show expecting a Helen Hayes-worthy production. But if you want to leave the theatre laughing and shaking your head at an absurdly clever musical performed by actors who truly seem to appreciate it, it's worth the trek to 16th and S.
Cannibal! The Musical runs Friday and Saturday night through Sept. 16. Tickets are available online.