Mutant Squad

Mutant Squad, presented by the Young Artists Council of the Youth Performance Company, is a fresh take on the "for teens by teens" category. Nick Clark's script is original and quirky. The plot has surprising little twists and turns. And the origin story of the Mutant is a hoot. Mutant Squad is a funny, witty comedy that never talks down to its audience.


The ensemble work is strong. All four members of the Mutant Squad play well off of each other. Axl (the role is double cast; I'm not sure which actor we saw tonight) is the ad hoc leader of the mutant hunters. He wants to be the hero and save the day. The actor does a good job of showing the vulnerability behind the swagger. Winona (Kiana Adams, with excellent comic timing) is the goth girl with the heart of gold. Walter(Koby Feldman) is the funny best friend. The fourth squad member, Po (Kaitlyn Andrews), is a Japanese or Japanese-American 6th grade boy who speaks with a broken English accent.

I did not understand why Po was played by a girl. Yes, the nerdy Japanese boy was a stock 80's character. Yes, I understand that the intent is to satirize the 80's, not the Japanese. But the cross-casting and cheesy accent made the execution of that intent murky at best and offensive at worst.

The trio of toughs were just as funny as the mutants.

The costume design adds a lot to the show. I don't want to spoil the wonderful weirdness of the Mutant costume so I won't describe it here. The late 80's/early 90's period costumes (I feel old!) helped define the characters.

FYI, the show, recommended for ages 10 and up, is loaded with language and innuendo (and a penis joke) that might make some ten-year-olds (and their parents) uncomfortable. The bullies do a lot of crotch grabbing and name-calling. My eleven year old had no problem with it. He laughed throughout the entire show.

By the way, Mutant Squad is playing at the Theatre Garage, which is being sponsored by Play by Play theater book Store and opening night gifts. They have tables set up. Check out the books and gifts and enter the drawing.

In Another's Size

In Another's Size, a play created and performed by the students of Stepping Stone Theatre's year long training program with Joseph Scrimshaw, is an inventive interpretation of the age old battle of the High School Stereotypes. The framework of the story is simple: each teen (at John Hughes High!) knows their individual role in the social order. An incident in the cafeteria leaves them "Freaky Friday-ed" and chaos ensues. Like any good 80's sitcom, they learn something about themselves in the process.

Because of the body swap, each young actor plays two different roles. The cast does an excellent job using their gestures, voices, and bodies to create clearly contrasting characters.

The show is anchored by Brian Kelly, the only adult in the show, as the nameless, under-appreciated Lunch Lady. Think Julia Child, the Church Lady, and Professor McGonagall rolled into one funny person. (He also plays bit parts as the health teacher, gym teacher, and the choir teacher.) His catch phase "Did you? Did you?" has already entered our family lexicon.

This show is a great choice for 6-12 year olds who enjoy the Disney Channel/Nickelodeon tween sitcoms. I felt the show deserved a bigger audience-5:30 Thursday evening is a tough time to get to a family show. But there are still 4 shows left!

Fringe For All 2009-Part 1

Fringe for All #2 is tonight at the Ritz Theater. The box office opens at 6:00. The price of admission is a $4 purchase of a snazzy new 2009 Fringe Button (with a picture of the newly christened "Wobbles the Cat". )

Kids' Fringe and Musicals were well represented at Fringe for All #1 last week. During the intermission I was regretting that I did not bring the boys. When the lights came up on part 2, the cast of Best Little Crackhouse in Philly (or Crackwhore!:the Musical) made me feel better about my choice.


The show opened with Youth Performance Company's The Mutant Squad. This is theater by teens, for teens. They performed a rap that introduced the mutants. I look forward to seeing this show. Also, check out the added content on their artists page.

Four Humors Theater's adaptation of Sideways Stories from the Wayside School has been on our list since the schedule went live. Tommy read the book and is curious about how they "turn it into a show." The excerpt was very funny, but you don't need to take my word for it. The entire three minute performance is on their artist's page.

More to come!