'Musical' full of energy, talent; 'U:BUG:ME' memorable

U:BUG:ME

During Kansas City summers, swatting at insects is as common as complaining about the heat. But after seeing "U:BUG:ME," you may think twice about smacking that fly.

This world premiere musical featuring singing and dancing insects is the current feature at the Coterie Theatre.

A fast-paced and amiably goofy rock musical aimed at the Coterie's youngest demographic, "U:BUG:ME" provides an entertaining primer on The Golden Rule.

The story revolves around Pico the fly (KC Comeaux), a somewhat irresponsible but likable sort, and his best friend Estaban the earwig (Shea Coffman), an inventor. They enter the big Crab Grass Festival contest sponsored by the Queen Bee (Jennie Greenberry). They hope to win big prizes for creating innovative new soil.

But Pico always manages to find trouble. Things get sticky when a bullying horsefly named Packo (Keenan Ramos) horns in and steals the soil so he can enter it in the contest himself.

Other memorable characters include Pico's girlfriend, a caterpillar named Isabelle (Katie Karel), and a couple of friendly cockroaches named Tavo (Francisco Javier Villegas) and Olive (Areli Gil).

The book, music, lyrics and arrangements are by Jeremiah Clay Neal, and the affable cast members perform the catchy tunes with gusto.

The Ant Hill Band (Brodie Rush, Matthew Jayson Weiss, Evan White and Sam Wisman) provide live accompaniment while interacting as characters onstage. Rush plays the pivotal role of Keno the centipede, an intimidating fellow who arrives just in time to be of special help to Pico and Estaban.

Director/choreographer Ernie Nolan gives the show an appropriately animated pace and exaggerated presentation that should appeal to the youngsters.

The contributions of set designer PJ Barnett, costumer Megan Turek and prop master Ron Megee add greatly to the whimsical, microscopic atmosphere.

All of the cast members are fine, but Karel is especially appealing. As a caterpillar approaching metamorphosis, she is not about to let a little thing like "interspecies" conflict ruin her romance with Pico.

As Keno the centipede puts it in song, "The golden rule is set in place for those like U and me. If you follow, and U love, you'll learn to set things free."

"U:BUG:ME" runs through Aug. 2 at the Coterie Theatre in Crown Center, 2450 Grand Ave., Kansas City, Mo.

For tickets, call (816) 474-6552 or go to www.coterietheatre.org.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

While few could have predicted the phenomenal success of Disney's made-for-TV-movie "High School Musical," it stands to reason that it has enormous appeal to pre-teens who want desperately to be like the "big kids."

The stage adaptation has quickly become a staple of community theaters around the country, and the Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park is now among them.

At the performance attended by your intrepid critic, kids in the 5- to 10-year-old age range were gleefully singing along with pop ditties popularized by Zac Efron and company. The silly aspects of the show's plot and characters are irrelevant.

Anthony Fortino plays Troy, the basketball star, whose biggest problem is figuring out how to juggle his schedule in order to date the school's pretty new brainiac Gabriella (Whitney Thurman), try out for the musical and play b-ball all at the same time.

His efforts are nearly thwarted by the self-centered drama queen Sharpay (Katie Hollis) and her acquiescent twin brother, Ryan (Austin Stang).

Director Tammy Ruder and choreographer Tara Wells have mounted a slick and diverting show and get their cast and crew to give it their all.

If we could harness that energy, there would be no need for coal.

"High School Musical" runs through July 12 at Shawnee Mission Park, 79th Street and Renner Road, Shawnee.

For tickets, call 312-9941 or visit www.theatreinthepark.org.

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