TARZAN, THE STAGE MUSICAL

How lucky we Southern Californians are to have this theatre company, 3D Theatricals, (that I just recently learned of,) right in our own backyard!

Even moreso than how much I enjoyed seeing the musical stage version of the 1999 Disney animated film of Tarzan, (which was on Broadway just a few seasons ago,) is my new fascination with 3D Theatricals.

The show, that’s currently running at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, looks like the most expensive Broadway production, of at least the caliber of what the Pantages and Ahmanson Theatres offer, but it’s billed as a “regional theatre” which I’m assuming means it doesn’t have close to the budget that those other houses do.  And yet, they mount these gorgeous shows! What a Herculean effort that must be!  (Or, perhaps a Tarzan-ian one!)

I’m sad that I didn’t know of their earlier shows because I wouldn’t have missed a one of them! And now that I saw what they did with Tarzan, I’m signing-up for all the rest. (And I suggest you fans of fun theatre follow suit.)

[Note: All of the 3D Theatricals shows play first, or only in some cases, at Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton.  Since Redondo Beach is much closer for me, I waited until it came to this venue.  But, if you live in Orange County, please look for their shows there because I’m assuming that all of them will be as enjoyable as Tarzan is, and I don’t want you to miss-out while waiting for my reviews of them.]

Of course, there are many Tarzan stories from which to choose to bring to life, but the stage musical is taken straight from the aforementioned 1999 Disney movie.  And after all, isn’t that the only one we’d want to see a musical of?  For those of you who don’t keep up with Broadway, (or animated stories,) Phil Collins wrote all the music and lyrics, which should be recommendation enough. (More on that topic in a second.)  And the book is by famous playwright, David Henry Hwang.

Tarzan is a physical extravaganza.  Where else do you see almost the entire cast of actors roam the stage on all fours?!  I just hope they have a physical therapist on-call!

Even though Collins composed the songs, (and You’ll Be In My Heart won the Oscar and Golden Globe that year,) I have to admit that most of them are not much to write home about.  But, even though it’s a musical, the music is the least of the considerations for this show.  Tarzan is all about the staging, costumes, dancing, humor, and, more than anything, the flying.  (After all, what would Tarzan himself be without a vine to swing on? When the grown-up guy comes swinging out, the audience goes wild!)  And all those elements are spot-on.  The performances are all good enough to keep our interest, with excellent singing voices, (especially that of Devin Archer, who plays Tarzan,) but the stand-out to me is Marc Cedric Smith as Kerchak, the ape father.  He’s sufficiently scary, but in a fatherly kind of way. And I just love his booming voice, which fits his imposing physique.

I’ve always had one problem with Disney stories, even since I was a kid myself.  They too often add some sadness, usually in the form of a death, that I just can’t rise above.  Yes, I do realize, (because they’ve told me so in song,) that it’s the “circle of life,” but, because their shows are mainly for children, I could live without that life lesson. At Tarzan, I kept telling myself not to worry; this is Disney, so it has to have a happy ending.  But I still had a feeling of impending doom, and there it was, towards the end.  So, for those of you with children, (or who yourself are as sensitive as I,) I’m just warning you about that part.

There was an unanticipated (when it was written) aspect of the show that I really appreciated; as much fun as this Disney musical is, it’s also cringingly relevant in the world today.  It’s a tale of all kinds of love, but the dialogue of the villain, who’s a hunter, caused little gasps throughout the opening night audience.  I saw it on this past Saturday night, and it was uber-relevant because of the death-by-idiot-hunter of Cecil, the famous lion in Africa.  It’s wonderful that families can discuss that topic after the show, so maybe we’ll have a new generation who knows enough to not commit those atrocities.

So, for every good reason, (entertainment, social relevance, and, my fave–a loin-cloth-only clad hunk,) you need to go see this production while you can!

Tarzan running through August 9, 2015
Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center
1935 E. Manhattan Blvd., Redondo Beach
www.3dtshows.com