Tina Denmark is the most daring musical sensation that ever hit the third grade and nothing will stand in her way of attaining her next conquest, getting the lead role in "Pipp in Tahiti, the Musical". Egged on by her equally ambitious mother Judy and her sleazy agent Sylvia St. Croix, Tina auditions overly confident that she will get the lead role, because well, no one else is talented enough to get it. However, Tina's ego is severally bruised as she not only doesn't get the part, but is made the understudy of the new lead, the connected Louise Lerman. Tina resolves to adapt to her situation in the only logical way, murder her competition as she "accidentally" hangs Louise from the catwalk.
The death of Louise doesn't deter the production in the least and Tina, being the understudy takes center stage with Judy looking on in triumph. However on opening night, reviewer Lita Encore, a sharp tongued reviewer and who happens to be Tina's adopted grandmother who hates musicals and her mother Judy skewers Tina's performance. Through the bad review its discovered that Tina actually killed Louise and she is sent to the ‘Daisy Clover School for Psychopathic Ingenues'. During Tina's time away Judy rediscovers her own talents and goes on to become a Broadway success. Its only when Tina returns "reformed" from her stay at the prison school that a reporter takes an interest and now the infamous daughter and famous mother battle each other for the spotlight taking the contest to more absurd extremes.
Both disturbing and hysterically funny at the same time, "Ruthless, the Musical" serves up dramas that are not seen on stage. "I like all the parody of show business and the references to movies and shows. It was fun finding them during rehearsal. Also, there are no big production numbers in the show but everyone has at least one big solo number. It gives the actors a chance to really have their moment on stage," said director Cindy Alexander .
When asked if it was difficult to find a young actress who pull off such a crazy role like Tina, Alexander mentioned that she actually had a lot of talent to choose from. "We were pleasantly surprised by the number of young, talent actresses who came to our auditions. We jokingly said we should change the show to Annie!", she said.
One of the other show's strengths, aside from its comedy, is its showcasing of varied female roles which is one of the reasons that Alexander chose it for this season. "Ruthless is a cast of all female characters but the role of Sylvia is played by a man. Like many community theatres, Chester Theatre Group has a number of very talented actresses and most traditional plays have more male characters than female so every couple of years, I like to do a play that features women," Alexander said.
"This is the kind of show where they will have a really fun time. The songs are infectious and the laughs are throughout the show," she added.
About Chester Theatre Group
Each season, for more than 50 years, the Chester Theatre Group has been a vital part of the New Jersey cultural community. Their home, the Black River Playhouse, is rare among theatres in New Jersey in that it connects artists and audiences in a special in-the-round theatre space where viewers are less than five feet away from performers. That intimacy is their greatest asset. It generates a singular energy that occurs only in live theater.
Chester Theatre Group
54 Grove Street (at the corner of Maple Avenue), Chester, NJ
November 28-December 7, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm
Tickets: $25.00 for adults and $23.00 for seniors and students. For groups of 10 or more, all tickets will receive the discounted price of $23.00.
Tickets can be purchased on their site at www.chestertheatregroup.org or call 908-879-7304.
Cast:
Judy Denmark – Maria Brodeur
Lita Encore – Lisa Deane
Louise Lerman/Eve – Raven Dunbar
Miss Thorn/Ms. Block – Beth Amaiano Gleason
Sylvia St. Croix – Michael Foley
Tina Denmark – Molly Farrell
Stage Manager – Diane Butler
