Mosey on down to Fat Sam's speakeasy for a spoof of 1920s gangster movies, thanks to a big cast of kids at Stage West.
By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Times Staff Writer
Published October 7, 2005
The musical Bugsy Malone Jr. is every kid's dream: a shoot-'em-up gangster show where no one gets hurt and everyone gets to play tough.
The secret?
"Silly String," explains Wahnita Dow, who is directing the 42 kids, ages 6 through 17, in the spoof of 1920s gangster movies at the Forum at Stage West Community Playhouse.
When two rival gangs shoot it out to see who will be boss of the town, instead of killing each other off, they "splurge" their rivals with the thin ropes of Silly String. That way, everyone ends up okay and singing Give a Little Love.
"The "splurge' immobilizes the character," Ms. Dow said. The "stiff" is whisked off the stage, and the action continues, but it's action with lots of braggadocio and no real violence.
Bugsy Malone Jr. is set in an East Coast speakeasy called Fat Sam's Grand Slam, owned, of course, by Fat Sam (Anthony Moffatone), a smooth-talking operator. Fat Sam constantly laments the lack of brains in his gang and complains about the incessant knuckle-cracking of his sidekick, appropriately nicknamed Knuckles (Joseph Montagnino).
Fat Sam's empire is threatened by his main rival, Dandy Dan (Mike Petrie), whose gang, with the help of yards of Silly String, manages to thin the ranks of Fat Sam's followers down to one.
It looks like the end for Fat Sam until the sweet-faced Bugsy Malone steps in to smooth things over - and to work out the tangled romances that involve aspiring singer-dancer Blousey Brown (Michelle Alagna) and the star at Fat Sam's club, Tallulah (Ashley Schoendorf).
"Bugsy tells the story to the audience," Ms. Dow said. "He's trying to impress Blousey."
The show has quite a bit of singing and dancing, "especially for a kids show," said Carol Ballard, production manager.
The numbers give the cast a chance to strut their stuff.
For example, Fizzy (Kaled Margieh) is a reluctant gangster who really wants to be a dancer. Eight-year-old Gigi Michalicka, who plays the roles of Dotty and Lena, sings a solo. Nine-year-old Kristopher Hamlin does three roles, including an onstage piano player. And both gangs sing and dance.
Bugsy Malone Jr. is truly a community effort, Ms. Dow said.
"Tom Hansen from the Show Palace (Dinner Theatre) drafted the plans for the set, and Steve Melton's construction class at Springstead High built it," she said. The parents of cast members painted the set.
The Show Palace also provided many of the costumes and at least one painted backdrop. Several local dance schools contributed dancers and singers.
"I have an extremely, extremely talented group of players," Ms. Dow said, "and a lot of people helping with the show."
The show is less than two hours long, including a 15-minute intermission.
If you go
WHAT: Bugsy Malone Jr.
WHERE: The Forum at Stage West Community Playhouse, 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill
WHEN: Oct. 14-16 and 21-23. Shows are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays
TICKETS: $8, reserved seating. Box office is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and an hour before each performance. Call (352) 683-5113.
