By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com
photo copyright: Brian Gawne/The Gaslight Theatre
Janee Page flaunts her evil ways as the wicked sorceress Ruby Witch.
Make way for a whole brand new show at the Gaslight Theatre, written and directed by Katherine Byrnes and Mike Yarema to keep up with the times, becoming the first Gaslight production to include smart phones, computer messaging and references to TikTok.
The song list has a fresher flavor as well, as we meet “The Revengers,” a daring collection of super-powered heroes caught up in fanciful (and elaborately costumed) adventures across time and space, turning worm holes into galactic freeways stretching from the top of Mount Everest to the cold space of dying planet Zerox, where desperate times demand desperate actions.
Deep in this Interstellar Universe, reality makes its own rules, the action is zippy and plot lines zingy, often turning on the surprises of a single pun. To power the beating heart of digital intrigue in this race for supersonic survival is the indomitable multi-hued Energy Cube, for whoever holds The Cube holds the ultimate power.
And when the greatest scene stealer is a massive bright green and muscular, eternally angry character known as the Insatiable Bulk (David Orley), well, you know today's Hollywood influencers on the big screen are a long way from the Land of Oz.
Borrowing a bit from Norse mythology, the troubled brothers Thor, Lord of Thunder (Jake Chapman) and Loki, Monarch of Mischief (Todd Thompson) soon turn against each other, even though both are wearing battle helmets that flaunt equally menacing wings and horns.
Loki, raising the level of mendacity in his Mischief, tricks Thor into handing over the radiating Cube, thus endangering the very existence of Earth itself. Can Loki accelerate global warming and turn us all into cinders?
Loki is joined by a strikingly mysterious sorceress filled with evil body language to match her devious attitudes, the relentless Ruby Witch (Janee Page), whose sinister powers become quite convincing.
She is opposed by the intimidating Lady Steel (Heather Stricker), a female force for good, clad all in red, with muscle power to match.
Using his brains and brawn for bad deeds is Zanor (Yarema), the evil mastermind in black. We know he's the dude in charge because his helmet has more horns than anybody else.
Meanwhile, back on Terra Firma, in the highly advanced laboratory of renowned astrophysicist Dr. Erika Selving (Samantha Cormier) and her eager lab assistant Janey (Erin Thompson), more unexpected threats are lurking.
For the Gaslight's traditional olio add-on, the gang stays closer to home, turning to that family favorite TV show, “The Brady Bunch,” showcasing early 1970s fashion favorites such as bright orange shirts tucked into flowered pants – and that was just the boys!
As each Brady appeared on stage – Marcia, Jan, Cindy, Greg, Peter, Bobby, mom Carol and dad Mike, as well as Alice the housekeeper – it was like deja vu all over again.
Looking bouncy as ever, their song list included “Sunshine Day,” “I'm A Believer” and “Come On, Get Happy.” Some of the special guests stopping by were Davy Jones, the Partridge family and...my personal favorite...Kermit the frog singing “It Ain't Easy Being Green,”
“The Revengers” runs through August 27 with performances at various times Tuesdays through Sundays in the Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway Blvd.
Tickets are $27 plus tax, with special discounts for groups, students, seniors, military, first responders, and children age 2-12. For details and reservations, 520-886-9428, or visit www.thegaslighttheatre.com
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