2512
(4 votes, average 5.00 out of 5)
Written by Jay Rath
Mar 10, 2011
“Make Me a Song” features Nicole Riege, Bruce Wheeler, Lisa Spierer, Bobby Goderich and Ken Kusiak. – Photo: Alex Szele
Look out, Scott Walker! “Make Me a Song,” a satirical musical that takes on the Republican Party, receives its Midwestern premiere on March 11 in Madison. The play is by William Finn, the lyricist-composer who created the hit “Falsettos.”
“It’s very timely, because one of its through-lines makes fun of Republicans,” says Tara Ayres, artistic director of StageQ. The Madison theater company’s mission is to present gay and lesbian-focused productions and works by gay and lesbian playwrights.
“It’s not primarily a political show, but it does have political content,” Ayres explains.
“Make Me a Song” features 25 songs from Finn, a Tony Award-winning composer, including a suite from “Falsettos.” Also featured are the songs “Passover,” “Billy’s Law of Genetics,” “Republicans” and “Hitchhiking Across America.”
“It’s interesting, because if there’s any kind of common theme to the show, I’d say it’s about being urban and intellectual and hip and Jewish and homosexual,” Ayres says.
Besides comedy, one of the show’s serious topics is AIDS.
“There are a number of love songs, and then there are songs about people dealing with death, or people even facing their own impending death,” she says. “This is not a sad show, but it certainly has some introspective songs about coming to terms with one’s own mortality.”
The Washington Post has named Finn, who serves on the faculty of New York University, “the composer laureate of loss.” He is the creator of three revues, including “Elegies: A Song Cycle.” Finn is also the creator of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” which is becoming a staple in the community theater repertoire.
During its off-Broadway 2007 run, The New York Times said that “the beauty of ‘Make Me a Song’ is that the audience gradually falls into Mr. Finn’s mind-set and goes along for the ride with his changing moods.” The newspaper also lauded the revue’s “long stretches of brilliance.”
“Most of it is a storyteller’s show,” Ayres says. “Finn is a kind of narrative songwriter, so, in the majority of the songs in the show, the cast members are telling a story to the audience.”
The cast includes Bobby Goderich, Ken Kusiak, Nicole Riege, Lisa Spierer and Bruce Wheeler.
“Make Me a Song” will be performed at the Bartell Community Theatre, just off the northeastern corner of Capitol Square in Madison, the site of ongoing demonstrations against Gov. Scott Walker.
“I’m actually assuming we’ll pick up some audience members from those folks who are protesting,” Ayres says. “One of the reasons I like doing theater that has political content is that it provides moral support and respite for people to go out back there. I think they would enjoy it.”
Will protesters’ signs be safe in the lobby during the show?
“Absolutely,” promises Ayres, laughing. “I think we can arrange that.”
“Make Me a Song” plays March 11 - 26 at the Bartell Community Theatre, 113 E. Mifflin St., in Madison. Call 608-661-9696, ext. 3, or visit stageq.com for information.
