IT'S TIME FOR "GNATMAN!"

By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com

HEY KIDS, WHAT TIME IS IT? 

IT'S TIME FOR "GNATMAN!"

photo by gwane

Tiger Lady (Janee Page) gets surprised by Gnatman (Mike Yarema) at the Gaslight Theatre.

The Gnat is back. We're talking Gnatman, who is definitely gnot your ordinary comic book superhero.

Need more proof? Fly by the Gaslight Theatre where “Gnatman” is on the wing through Aug. 26. First conceived, written, directed and introduced by Peter Van Slyke back in the mid 1980s, “Gnatman” has become a genuine Gaslight Classic, full of far-out puns, famously low-tech special stage effects and a song list recalling that magical musical time after disco bloomed and before punk rock took over.

This story is set in the 1960s, Mammoth City's crime syndicate is reaping dastardly fruits from a wave of science research and technology that has introduced more evil gadgets than you could find in an adult video store. Chief among them is the Intrastatic Device with its insidious Paralyzing Ray.

Eager to conquer Mammoth City and then the world is the fashion challenged (and apparently color blind) green-haired Jester (Todd Thompson), so fanatical he can go out in public wearing a broad-shouldered double-breasted pink suit with black pin stripes.

Far more dapper is the Jester's wingman, that clattering, chattering Pelican ( Jacob Brown), clad in a color coordinated tan safari-ish outfit.

Fetchingly expressing her affection for big game animals is the seductively feline Tiger Lady (Janee Page), ever in purr-suit of the purr-fect crime. And, if that's not enough, she knows all the words to “Memory” (you know, the song from “Cats”).

But what about Gnatman? Taking great pride in being a relentless pest to all criminals, this ecologically active enemy of E.V.I.L. goes green with his entire wardrobe. Proud to play the masked role is Mike Yarema.

Never leaving his side is Atom the Teen Marvel (Jake Chapman), so called because he's always in motion.

Providing the romantic interest, so to speak, is the ever-ebullient Gnatgirl (Erin Thompson), equally green of costume and pure of heart. What she admires most about Gnatman is his idealism.

But for Gaslight regulars always happy to catch the buzz on every “Gnatman” production, the gnicest treat of all is the return of Joe Cooper in his crisply turned out formal black attire as Manfred the butler, still putting the dash into haberdashery.

Yes, of course they still do Manfred's specialty number “Hot Cocoa” to the melody of “Blue Velvet.” We will all be drinking deeply to that one.

Plot-wise it takes about 90 minutes including intermission for the forces of good to triumph over those fiendish machinations of the sinister crime organization E.V.I.L. (Everything Vile In Life)....then comes the famous aftershow olio.

This time the Gaslight Gang turns for inspiration to Simon Cowell and that dream-making machine You've Got Talent!

“Gnatman” plays at various times Tuesdays through Sundays to Aug. 26 in the Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway. Tickets (plus tax) are: $21.95 adults; $19.95 military, students and seniors; $11.95 children 2-12. For details and reservations (required), 886-9428 or visit thegaslighttheatre.com