Since last we saw our little ensemble, Ben Tyler's homage to The Wallace & Ladmo Show has moved to the friendlier confines of The Herberger Theater Center's Stage West, produced now by Super-Boffo Productions. The move has given the show a better set (a clever revolve takes care of the Hub Kapp and the Wheels' appearances), extra material (the time machine really spits out a guest of local interest), and a few different video selections. With these welcome additions, it's easy to assume that a show that was initially entertaining has gotten even better.
Unfortunately, on the opening night of the third run that has brought back the entire cast and crew intact, there were a few extra things that weren't expected. The show proved to be rusty, slow in pacing, and subdued. Many things could explain this, including a Thursday night opening, a small audience, and a limited rehearsal process. Despite these, there's still that nagging question that haunts all of Ben Tyler's long-running successes: has the show run its course? The specter of Mill Avenue Theatre still lingers. The answer to this potentially serious question is "Maybe."
Sitting through the show a second time, having only seen it at the Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center when produced by Desert Foothills Theatre, there was enough changed, and still plenty of humor to engage me. A person who saw it when produced last time at the Herberger might not find it as enjoyable. And, as it's becoming clear, there's a definite bias: those who didn't enjoy the show when originally aired are not guaranteed to enjoy this reminiscence.
The four leads are still wonderful, with Bob Sorenson's dead-on take of Pat McMahon definitely a corker. The four supporting members of the ensemble are still a blast. And it still makes me wish just a bit that I'd grown up in a city that would support such quirkiness for 35 years. Does it have the staying power of Guv? I wouldn't think so. But Wallace & Ladmo's third production this year is a good bet for those who haven't seen it before, or who missed the last presentation at the Herberger.
Production Details:
The Wallace & Ladmo Show
Written by Ben Tyler in collaboration with Pat McMahon
& Bill Thompson with material from the original Wallace
& Ladmo Show. Music & Lyrics by Michael Condello,
Pat McMahon, and Bill Thompson.
Super-Boffo Productions
The Herberger Theater Stage West, Phoenix (For a map to location,
click this
link)
(602) 252-8497
December 21st, 2000 - January 7th, 2001