THE WILD PARTY - CAP Merrick | 3.8.24
The Cultural Arts Playhouse in Merrick is presenting Andrew Lippa’s version of ‘The Wild Party’ from March 2nd to March 24th with two different casts, which is important to note - be sure to check the theater’s social media ahead of time if there is somebody specific that you are looking to see. I saw the production on March 8th and will be discussing that throughout; after seeing this cast and knowing many of the players in the other cast, I can’t imagine you would walk away disappointed with either.
The Wild Party is essentially about the relationship between Queenie and Burrs and how it ends in tragedy at the end of a party. When we meet Queenie, we learn that her attraction to Burrs is somewhat rooted in his violent nature and while this is what drew her to him in the first place, she is starting to feel overwhelmed by it. She decides to throw a party with allllllllll the sex and drugs and it quickly spirals out of control. To say much more would give away some plot points that are better to experience in person - but it gets heavy and it’s worth it. Trust me. This is one of my favorite shows for a reason!
Queenie is fantastically played by Kendra Perry, who navigates through the characters' different layers with ease. We get to see Perry deliver vocally in upbeat numbers like “Queenie Was a Blonde” and “Raise The Roof” - but my favorite moment was the pensive “Maybe I Like It This Way”, where Queenie questions herself and her own motives for staying in this toxic relationship with Burrs.
Hans Paul Hendrickson plays the troubled vaudeville clown, Burrs. As I mentioned in my earlier interview with him, this felt like a departure for Hendrickson as I associate him more with the lighter fare in theater - playing roles like The Cat In The Hat (Seussical the Musical) and Joseph (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) and I was impressed with his portrayal of a darker character. He fully understood the assignment and not only was his depiction of a violent and toxic partner convincing, he also managed to make you feel some empathy for Burrs and the events that transpired. Hendrickson’s chemistry with Perry was a highlight as well, with “What Is It About Her?” being a solid standout in the show.
Strong vocals didn't end there, however! Truthfully the entire cast delivered in this way but the performances from Alyssa Paciullo (Kate), Taniesha Corbin (Madelaine True), and Shiloh Bennett (Mr. Black) cannot go unmentioned. Paciullo was so incredibly fun and engaging in “The Life Of The Party” that you didn't want it to end!
Corbin gave us exactly what we expect from her - good comedy and some of the strongest vocals one can expect to hear on Long Island. Her presence on stage immediately brings a smile to your face, her energy is infectious, and singing is consistently on point. With all of my prior experience WITH ‘The Wild Party’, I’ve never seen “An Old-Fashioned Love Story” as a major highlight, but my mind has changed thanks to her. You'll leave the theater wishing she had more to do! Absolutely brought the house down.
Bennett has a voice as smooth as butter and shines brightly on numbers like “Poor Child” and “Come With Me”, LIVING up to the hype I've heard over the years. He was also the show’s Music Director which adds to how impressive he is. We love a multi-talented performer!
The other supporting characters should not be overlooked either; Ruben Fernandez served as choreographer and the dancing was tight and super enjoyable, with “The Juggernaut” being my personal favorite. Many kudos to Director Keith Jones as well, who clearly knew what needed to be accomplished in a show as daunting as this and SMASHED it.
All in all, The Wild Party can easily be considered another success for Long Island Theater and I’m super glad that I was able to make it down! Tickets can be purchased on their website at www.capmerrick.com, by calling the box office, or at the door.
Cast:
QUEENIE - KENDRA PERRY, SYDNEE LABUDA
BURRS - HANS PAUL HENDRICKSON, ANTHONY ORELLANA
KATE - ALYSSA PACIULLO, KAYLA STALLONE
BLACK - SHILOH BENNETT
MADELAINE - TANEISHA CORBIN, SHEA MCMAHON
EDDIE - PATRICK SILK, STONE LOCKE
MAE - ALIZA CONTI, FAITH BENTIVEGNA
JACKIE - JACK CEGILE
OSCAR - JOE THOMAS
PHIL - CHRIS WADOLOWSKI, ROHAN LAWRENCE
NADINE - CHLOE HENDERSON, SAMMIE FALES
MAXINE - LIV SWANSON
DOLORES - HALLIE ROTEMAN, NICOLE GONZALEZ
Creative Team:
Director - KEITH JONES
CHOREOGRAPHER - RUBEN FERNANDEZ
Music Director - SHILOH BENNETT
Stage Manager - SOPHIE NOCERA
SET DESIGN - SHEA MCMAHON
CONSTRUCTION & TECHNICAL DIRECTION - DOMENICK NAPOLI
COSTUMES - JOJO MINASI
Lighting Designer - KEITH JONES