Theater Reviews

Audition! The Musical (Photo by George Vennes III)

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More About

• Evelyn Rudie
• David Cerda
• Heidi Sulzman
• Matt Walker
• Sandra Kinder

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RUDOLPH THE RED-HOSED REINDEER With book and lyrics by David Cerda and music by Cerda and Scott Lamberty, this yuletide comedy sends up Rankin and Bass’s beloved stop-motion animation classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Narrative duties still rest with Sam the Snowman (Jim Keily, channeling Burl Ives), but everything else in Christmastown has changed: Santa (Danny Lopes) is a cruel tyrant; Mrs. Claus (Marina Mouhibian) is a drunk; Santa’s elves are gay, gay, gay; and Rudolph (Eric Bunton) is a cross-dresser. Closely following the plot of the original, Rudolph runs away with oddball elf Herbie (Jeffrey Christopher Todd), but in this version, Herbie is a misfit because he’s not gay enough. Shrewdly directed by Richard Israel, the comedy is hilarious because the source material is so recognizable. Cerda’s lyrics and Cerda and Lamberty’s music amusingly parody the original’s songs, while Cerda’s dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny. Among a terrific cast, Brett Hren stands out in three roles: Elfano, the head elf; Coach Comet; and the Half-Naked Cowboy on the Island of Misfit Toys. Mark Landres makes a fabulous Abominable Drag Beast, while wearing one of Mouhibian’s clever costumes. The SpyAnts at the ELEPHANT THEATER, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd.; Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; thru Jan. 13. (323) 860-8786. (Sandra Ross)

SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW See Stage feature.