Danny Feedback’s “Crack Rock Opera”
Danny Feedback’s “Crack Rock Opera”
With Kinky Catawampus and Room Full of Strangers
Bread and Circuses LLC
July 16, 2011
Theatre Downtown, Orlando, FL</strong>
Part Rock Show, party Vegas parody, part environmental theater, this entertainment covered the waterfront with varied success. Our master of ceremonies Sal Minnelli appears in a powder blue tux, aviator shades and a hair piece that could deflect most small arms fire. Backing him is his dragged out band leader Mr. Lipchitz wearing a fetching blue chenille number with lace and sequins – only his Nikes clashed with the outfit. Up in the back a heckler went after Minnelli for making fun of transsexuals, and they were soon joined by a real heckler who had been acting creepy in the lobby. It wasn’t easy to appear creepy around this set, but Mr. Lovely Hair was soon ejected by a bouncer. I’ve never seen anyone thrown out of a theatre before: this was exciting! This was edgy! Controlled mayhem, and in air-conditioned comfort!
Then there was a break to change some instruments, and things began to unravel. A band called “Kinky Catawampus” took the stage. As early 21st century punk bands go, they were definitely one. They did have a loyal and vocal following, and there drummer and lead gave good performances, but their song writing was more about making noise than making a point. People slipped out the bar. Some never returned.
With one opening act down, another break to change instruments ate more energy and added some extra hum to the microphone lines. “Room Full of Strangers” took the stage. Musically similar to “Kinky Catawampus” they wore ski masks and did a few more theatrical things – they heckled a plant with a loud cell phone and when someone called for “Free Bird” a guy in a white suit and cardboard wings ran around. I did like their cover of “Kids in America,” it’s a good early MTV number even if the location of “east California” leaves me asking: “Needles? Blythe? Baker?” The bar did more business.
After two openers, I expect some fireworks, and Mr. Minnelli returned to introduce the headline event. Fuzz God Danny Feedback leads a band with his mother on base. She’s also the band slut, but when a Jenkem epidemic strikes she leaves for the woods. Officer Adolf Travolli takes his night stick to hunt her down while saxophonist Suku’ Me’ narrates in glow in the dark kabuki makeup and Ronnie appears in an animal mask to fills. Mom eventually returns, we have a happily- ever-after, and …and…time to go to the bar.
It’s not clear what the target audience is for this show. As theatre, the bands get in the way, the equipment changes destroy any forward momentum and the Crack Rock Opera plot is bluntly written and poorly acted. As a rock show, the bands fill a need and their fans adore them, so what purpose does the stripped down Hedwig story serve to enhance the music? The best part of the show was the Minnelli / Lipchitz segments – the parody songs were completely tasteless and completely funny, and I’d love to see those characters expanded. All put together, I find the show less engaging than the sum of its parts. The show feels like “we rented a space and it’s open till 1 – who wants to play?” This is a million dollar title pasted on a $4.95 show.
For more information on the Crack Rock Opera, please visit breadandcircusesllc.com
