Landless Tries to Save Perez Hilton
The cast of "Perez Hilton," courtesy Landless.
And he almost pulls it off, too, despite the middling material he's got to work with. Baughman stars as the title character in Perez Hilton Saves The Universe! (or at least the greater Los Angeles area), now being staged by Landless Theater Company at DC Arts Center. The musical, from the team of Randy Blair, Timothy Michael Drucker and Zachary Redler, doesn't lie; we're actually being floated the premise that it's Hilton's job to save Los Angeles from a devastating terrorist plot (and subsequent bomb). Will he pull it off? Will his campy escapades keep us riveted to the end? These are the stakes, and for the audience, the second question is more crucial.
But the major problem with Perez is that it takes even its most charming moments to excess. "Perez's Lament," one of Baughman's ballads, starts off rather hilariously, as Hilton wrings his hands over the ridiculous fact he may have to "shoot my lover in the face" (believe it or not, you can actually get a lot of mileage out of that phrase when repeatedly sung). But the song devolves ultimately into ho-hum penis imagery, and is revamped later, unnecessarily, as a reprise. Funny at first, but ultimately beaten to death: that's how much of the humor goes in Perez.
Landless, for whom cult, niche pieces are their bread and butter, gets what it can from the show. Baughman's vocals are strong, and subtle when they need to be, and he manages the feat of making Hilton a sympathetic character while still paying homage to his over-the-top slang, and not shying away from his pathetic grasps for fame. Similarly, the crystal-voiced Noral Palka ingests humanity into Alyssa, Hilton's put-upon assistant, while still rocking comedic timing in the process. Shayna Blass is a treat in a handful of roles, making an amusing late-in-the-game appearance as a from-the-grave Britney Spears.
The chorus, however, while enthusiastic (Katie Brobst makes an uncanny Lady Gaga), isn't great at finding vocal balance in the admittedly small venue; it sounds like everyone's trying to be heard above the crowd. And while admittedly it'd be hard to like anyone in the role of Kathy Griffin (cast here as a stock villain), Heather Scheeler can't quite own the stage during her solo numbers, and her vocals strain when progressing beyond belting.
Perez Hilton runs through June 5. Tickets are available online.