Another "Sleeping Ugly" Review

From Gay Chicago. It would not allow me to "copy and paste" the article, nor did it have a way to email the link. So I took it upon myself to type it out and put it on the blog. Appreciation is appreciated. I got great mention! And an overall great review!

by Jeff Rossen

For those of us old enough to remember them (and willing to admit to being of such an age), a fun part of growing up was watching “Fractured Fairy tales”, animated skewerings of “happily ever after stories” that were originally shown as a segment of The Rocky and Bullwinkle show. Griffin Theatre takes this alternative way of looking at the familiar and brings to the stage a live musical adaptation of Jane Yolen’s bestselling retelling of the “Sleeping Beauty” story for the first musical in the company’s 17-year history. It’s a hit and miss affair, with most of the hits coming during George Howe’s wonderfully inventive song segments and through the broad and very entertaining performances of the six-member cast.

William Massolia’s adaptation of Yolen’s prose takes a while to click, seemingly trying a bit too hard to induce laughter. But after about 15 minutes, director Richard Barletta and his cast settle into a solid pacing and more relaxed approach to the script, and the rest of the 80-minute musical brings fine enjoyment.

After many years of trying to have a child, our Toad narrator (Matthew Lon Walker) grants the King (Michael Klug) and Queen’s (Jill Hames) wish, and she gives birth to a baby girl. Unfortunately, their little princess, Miserella (Colleen McSherry), grows up to be a raving bitch who abuses servants and subjects alike. When she gets lost in the forest one day, she has the misfortune of happening upon an aging Fairy Godmother (Hames), who decides a sleeping princess is better than this waking version and casts a spell on Miserella. Problem is, the spell is so powerful that it not only knocks out Miserella but also the Fairy Godmother and sweet-natured Plain Jane (Leah Morrow), whose country cottage the pair arrive at while trying to find Miserella’s way back to the castle. Will a handsome prince arrive to break the spell and allow all to live happily ever after? Yes and no.

“Sleeping Ugly” is that unusual product that works well for both adults and children, simple enough for the younger set while offering a script and songs that let an older audience enjoy its winking sophistication.

McSherry is appropriately loathsome, and Hames is a hoot, and the tag team of Steve Best and Klug couldn’t be more entertaining in their multiple roles. A simple yet effective design gives the show a storybook look, completing this pleasing diversion. (***)