KHAN!!! THE MUSICAL!
A parody trek-tacular
Co-Written, composed, and lyrics by
BRENT BLACK
Co-conceived and additional materials by
ALINCA MORGAN
Directed by JOHN LAMPE
Review by Nicole Jesson
To quote the gentleman across the aisle, “This show has no right to be this good.”
And yet, dear reader, it is.
There is no doubt in my mind that Gene Roddenberry is rolling in his grave – with laughter. The show is pure joy. If you know The Wrath of Khan, or at the very least OG Trek and any musical theatre, you will love this show. The Creatives have boldly gone where they probably shouldn’t, and we are all the better for it.
The cast is fantastic. I am absolutely shocked to see Off-Broadway “Debut” next to the names Julian Manjerico and Zachary Kropp, Commander Data and Khan respectively. I’m not sure if Julian is Joel Gray playing Data or Brent Spinner as Cabaret’s MC, but his performance is stellar either way. Kropp takes a dash of Ricardo Montalban on a Tim Curry Frankenfurter and soars to new heights with his powerful vocals. And then, there’s Shyaporn Theerakulstit – learn that name. His performance as Admiral James T. Kirk channeled William Shatner so profoundly that I’d like to ask Mr. Shatner if he woke up this morning after having a strange dream about being in Les Miz?
I would be remiss if I did not touch upon the remainder of the talented crew of the Enterprise: Clayton Matthews who skillfully plays both helmsmen, Crystal Marie Stewart who delightfully gets to say everything Nichelle Nichols was thinking, Laura Whittenberger who embodies Saavick’s half Vulcan / half ingenue perfectly, Lindsay M.E. Newton bounces from Bones to Scotty and back again with aplomb, and lastly, Maxwell Nausbaum who gives a dazzling display of Spock’s tapping meditation all the while maintaining Spock’s expressionless demeanor.
Do not overthink this! It’s just plain fun. You will laugh. You will groan. You will think, “Oh no, you didn’t!?!” You will giggle and sing along to the perfectly selected pre-show / intermission music. And folks, I am purposely leaving out most of the best bits, so I don’t ruin it for you. Proceed at warp speed to the Players Theatre on MacDougal, grab a coffee and a pastry at Cafe Ruggerio as you wait in line, and then sit back and take in the stars.
P.S. Jolene Richardson, costumer, if you are responsible for that Greatest American Hero wig, you deserve an award. Merritt Butrick would be honored.
Off-Broadway’s Players Theatre (115 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012) | May 4 – June 4 | http://www.khaniscoming.com
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