By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com
photo by Brian Gawne
From left, Mike Yarema, Janee Page, Jacob Brown, Heather Stricker and Jake Chapman aboard the Planetary Union Space Ship Excelsior.
There's a definite hippie vibe to the songs and choreography swaying through “Space Trek,” the summer show now playing at the eastside Gaslight Theatre. Melodies reminiscent of “Good Morning Starshine,” “Reach Out,” “Get Together” and “Put A Little Love In Your Heart” also recall the goofy times of William Shatner as Capt. Kirk on TV's iconic “Star Trek.”
Mike Yarema has that juicy role at the Gaslight, playing Capt. James E. Quick, officer in charge of the Planetary Union Space Ship Excelsior.
Quick's nemesis, also quite convincing, is the ungodly Voltaire, devoted to energetic evil, as played by Todd Thompson with high voltage hair and an intimidating costume.
Bringing radiant beauty to the Gaslight stage is Janee Page, all shimmering and silvery as Princess Serena Andromeda, the interplanetary Ruler of Mylanta. She just wants everybody to get along.
Well, you can be sure that won't happen,,,otherwise there wouldn't be a show.
Voltaire is the irrationally ambitious Ruler of Zantac. He wants to run everything, including Mylanta and the entire patent medicine universe. After all, Voltaire's base of operations is in the city of Kaopectate, near the pink plains of Pepto Bismol.
The Gaslight's audience regulars, who always feel like family, will get a kick out of Jake Chapman's performance as Mr. Sprock, the pointy-eared science officer. After Sprock gets “evilized” by Voltaire and his minions, he goes a little crazy – proving Chapman has the stage power to over-act right along with Gaslight's finest.
Speaking of the Gaslight's finest, one of the company's long-time favorites, Joe Cooper, makes a guest appearance as the Excelsior's chief engineer Lt. “Monty” Montgomery, a Scotsman rolling those Rs like he's got a million of them.
Adding twinkling ceiling lights and other unexpected stage effects, scenic designer Tom Benson uses the entire auditorium to create a sense of the vastness in outer space. Although it does help if you squint a little.
As for the plot, Voltaire wants the power. The Excelsior's crew has it. Voltair seizes it. The heroic men and women of Exelsior get it back.
The aftershow olio becomes a showcase for one of Cooper's most popular impersonations, the voluble Chuck Barris running “The Gong Show.” His contestants bring us more tunes of the period, such as “Disco Duck” and the super-sudsy theme from “Car Wash.”
But my personal favorite was Heather Stricker in an impressively horned helmet and Valkyrie Brunhilde outfit singing disco opera.
“Space Trek” continues through August 25 with performances at various times Tuesdays through Sundays in the Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway. Tickets (plus tax) are $22.95 adults; $20.95 students, seniors and military; $12.95 children age 2-12. Reservations are required. Call 520-886-9428 or visit the Gaslight box office, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
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