GASLIGHT THEATRE STIRS UP A SPIRITED PRODUCTION OF "GHOSTBLASTERS"

By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com

 

photo by Brian Gawne/the Gaslight Theatre

The forces of evil get all the snappy costumes this time. They are (from left) Heather Stricker, Janee Page and Todd Thompson.

 

“Ghostblasters” has returned to Gaslight Theatre in full color, with myriad special effects that eschew computer graphics of any kind. Good old-fashioned spookiness prevails, with magical tricks and lighting techniques that frolic in a certain kind of endearing goofiness.

This favorite from the Gaslight archive of satirical wonders was originally written by Peter Van Slyke, now directed and adapted here by Katherine Byrnes and Mike Yarema.

Set in the 1980s among the rumbling towers and trembling ectoplasms of Metropolitan City, “Ghostblasters” borrows from songs that recall the post-rock mannerisms of those changing times, working their way back to the end of the 20^th century.

Leading the trio of said Ghostblasters is extra high-energy Erin McCrea as Susie Holliday, a temp secretary in the parapsychology lab of Metropolitan University.

Being brave of heart with virtually no fear of any plasma from the paranormal, Susie cheers on a pair of white lab coat scientific types, Waldo “Wally” Beaker (Jake Chapman) and Zachary “Zack” Freeman (Yarema).

It takes awhile, and several cleverly spirited stunts, to get everybody introduced. Developing the high-tech equipment to blast these ghosts are Susie, Wally and Zack.

Opposing them with plans to rule the world is Gaslight favorite David Orley as Mayor Witherspoon of Metropolitan City, who later becomes Igor, an ancient god of war revived by an ancient spell. Also recalled from the mists of mythology is snappily dressed Randall J. Patterson (Todd Thompson), assistant to the Mayor, and then as spiky-haired Beetlegeuse the assistant to Igor.

Adding hammy humor to the efforts of these dark forces is Jacob Brown as Slobber the gushy green ghost who threatens to slobber all over the Ghostblasters, now operating proudly as uniformed professionals.

Cast as ghostly apparitions with their own ideas for being scary are Janee Page as the former librarian Lavinia Applethorpe , and Byrnes as former Science Professor Alice Pennybaker.

Fantasies of a different sort, but also from the 1980s, provide the setting for Gaslight's olio tribute to “Friends,” the ones who hung out after work at their favorite coffee haunt, Central Perk.

Along with performing a variety of songs from the period, and wondering if Ross will ever get himself out of the “friend stage,” there is a foamy layer of coffee jokes, such as:

What do you call coffee that makes you sad?

Depresso.

What do you call that feeling of always going to the same coffee shop day after day?

Deja brew.

“Ghostblasters” runs through August 28 at the Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway, playing at various times Tuesdays through Sundays. Tickets are $27 (plus tax) for adults, with discounts available. Reservations are required. To get started, phone the ticket office 520-886-9428, or visit www.thegaslighttheatre.com