A Sorry State of Affairs
Theatre League's "Guv: The Emperor Strikes Back" at The Scottsdale 
Playhouse
*1/2 (out of *****)
Mark S.P. Turvin
(w) 965-1021  (h) 894-5443
I can be reached for comment via e-mail at: mspt@asu.edu

	Arizona politics leaves a lot to be desired. More 
embarrassing things have happened here in the past six years than 
most states have to deal with in a century. It is this penchant 
for the politically perverse that drove the producer-owners of 
Tempe's Mill Avenue Theatre, Bruce and Candice Miles and Ben 
Tyler, to create the original, very funny and timely "Guv." 
	The political climate in 1991 was, in a word, a joke. The 
situation at the time was so indescribably ludicrous that the 
Tylers and Miles created the perfect show. The biting satire, 
creative lyrics, and catchy tunes lampooned the machinations of 
Sam Steiger, Rose Mofford and the insane Ev Meacham. "Guv" ran for 
twenty two months, perhaps a little longer than it should have, 
but there was something about the time that made politics truly 
funny. 
	Now, in 1996, politicians have once again made fools of 
themselves, and the original creative team has once more come 
together to prove that the pen is mightier than the sword. 
Perhaps, though, there was something lovingly buffoonish and 
surreal about "Honest Ev," where now, our cash-strapped, blue-
blooded Symington doesn't make for as funny material. Perhaps the 
creative team has lost its inspiration, and rehashing the same 
situations hasn't allowed for the same spark. Perhaps the intimate 
space at Mill Avenue was just perfect, where the cavernous and 
echo-filled Scottsdale Playhouse makes seeing a show a chore. 
Perhaps a sequel, in some ways, needs to surpass the predecessor 
to establish its own identity. Whatever the reason, "Guv: The 
Emperor Strikes Back" is a hollow, unsatisfying mish-mosh that is 
brought down by mediocre performances, tired old situations, and a 
theatre that is ill-suited for live presentations.
	To be fair, the show may have been a lot better than I could 
tell--I honestly couldn't wait to get home and read all of the 
witty lyrics I was missing. Obviously the company knew how bad 
things were going to be when they included all of the lyrics in 
the program. Between the sound system from hell, designed by Chris 
Griego, and the unbelievably rushed performance of Bruce Miles in 
his central roles as a miner and Joe Arpaio, almost all of the 
text was lost in the presentation. Ben Tyler's direction was 
generally unfettered and upbeat, and Robert L. Harper's 
choreography was appropriate, but some of the songs were so 
muddled, and some of the singing performances so off-key and 
painful, that nothing was going to stop the show from spinning out 
of control. 
	On top of all of the problems, Brian Kunnari's music was 
generally uninspiring, and worse yet, drowned out the few good 
performances, notably those of the talented David Hemphill in his 
song, "Getting a Wal-Mart," and Linda Griego as Ann Symington in 
"Ann's Say." 
	There were moments, especially in the beginning of the second 
act, where the show seemed like it would pick up, but terrible 
singing and performances caused it to stop on a dime once more. 
Three very good songs, "Prisoners in Pink," a homage to Maricopa 
County Jail inmates and the Sheriff that humiliates them, "Woods 
and Romely Tango," a dance between those two feuding Republicans, 
and the "Grand Canyon," the showstopping number about Symington 
and McCain's actions to stop the closing of a national landmark, 
were then followed by songs that stopped the show quicker than a 
sabotaged Amtrak rail.
	Yes, the original "Guv" was clever. Yes, the original "Guv" 
was funny and appropriate. Unfortunately, some things are best 
left remembered. When it comes to political satire, "Guv: The 
Emperor Strikes Back" is proof that you can't go home again.

Production Details:
"Guv: The Emperor Strikes Back" by Candice St. Jacques Miles & 
Brian M. Kunnari
Theatre League
The Scottsdale Playhouse, Scottsdale
678-2222
Through November 10th

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