By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com
Every meal is a party for David Fanning as The Vampire.
With a full moon rising over the Gaslight Theatre that doughty gang of players began its second scrapbook tribute show of selected highlights from 43 years of original productions with The Best of Gaslight Fall Revue, now playing every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 25.
A panoply of black costumes from the theater company's own clothes closet were on parade depicting every type of darkly dressed villain in American pop culture and folklore that has had its moment on the Gaslight's colorful stage.
That includes iconic hero figures resembling the Phantom of the Opera, Agent 007, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Dracula and Frankenstein, giving the Fall Revue a definite Halloween costume flair.
Now, thanks to the COVID pandemic which closed the theater, all the actors and their outfits have been moved out to the front porch for performances, along with musical accompaniment from an energetic trio led by pianist Linda Ackermann.
I say, why not join in the fun? The entire drive-in audience could arrive in costumes (they've already got the masks) to strut their stuff in the open spaces by their cars. Being sure, of course, to keep their six feet of social distance from all the other cars.
Bringing star power to this front porch Revue is special guest artist and Gaslight fan favorite David Fanning donning the duds and make-up from his favorite roles: singing the songs of longing for Christine who waits backstage at the Paris Opera House, later wearing a special agent's tuxedo and fearing he might not live until tomorrow, and most touching, appearing with a stitched up face, enormous shoulders, ill-fitting clothes and platform shoes as The Creature who wants to learn how to dance.
You just have to be there.
Joining Fanning are six other Gaslight regulars – Mike Yarema, Todd Thompson, Jake Chapman, Heather Stricker, Janee Page and Erin Thompson. At some point, each of them wore black, singing parodies of such songs as "Spooky,” “I Put A Spell On You,” “Evil Woman” and “Monster Mash.”
There are also brighter moments, such as Todd Thompson in kind of a Las Vegas get-up to croon “Everybody Loves Somebody” and “That's Amore.”
The sweetest by far is Erin Thompson in a beautiful gown reminiscent of “The Little Mermaid” to sing the timeless “Part of Your World.”
But my personal favorite in triplicate was the Three Musketeers, swinging their swords and wearing all that matching period garb as they turned to Barry Manilow for inspiration. Only, although the melody was the same as “I Write the Songs,” the words came out “We right the wrongs”...as in “We serve justice, we write the wrongs.”
The Gaslight's classic appreciation for puns and one-liners goes unfortunately astray with a reliance on computer canned humor for some seasonal laughs, but do you know why ghosts like to visit bars? They like the boos! As for those mummies, what is their favorite music? Wrap.
OK, one more. What do you call a vampire who lives in the kitchen? Count Spatula.
“The Best of Gaslight Fall Revue” plays at 7 p.m. every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 25. on the front porch of the Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway, where all the rules for safety and social distancing are meticulously observed.
Admission is $40 per vehicle, with no limit on the number of passengers. Every car receives a pillow-sized bag of free popcorn. Pizza and other Gaslight menu items, also beverages, are offered. For details and reservations, 520-886-9428, or visit www.thegaslighttheatre.com for complete details,
The Fall Revue is a fund raising event to help the theater company survive the COVID pandemic. Announced plans are for the regular Gaslight shows to resume in the Spring of 2021.
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