Review: ‘Disaster!’ at Blank Canvas Theatre Has Some Hot Stuff

The cast of “Disaster!” at Blank Canvas Theatre. Credit: Photo by Steve Wagner.

There’s a special allure to poking fun at hyper-dramatic fictional characters facing the worst-case scenario. Disaster movies tend to follow a formula, regardless of whether the characters are facing down a tornado, earthquake, zombies, or hybrid shark-crocodiles, making them especially susceptible to becoming the subject of parodies. Now, pair a self-aware, ridiculous disaster parody with hits from the 70s, and you’re in for an especially fantastic night.

Blank Canvas Theatre’s production of “Disaster! a 70s Disaster Movie Musical” cracks the disaster-parody formula, delivering a night of theater that is as absurd as it is fun.

It’s 1979 in Manhattan and the Barracuda, the first floating casino and discothèque in New York, is welcoming patrons for its opening night. Guests flood the club, blissfully unaware that Tony, the Barracuda’s corner- and cost-cutting owner has skimped on a slew of safety measures in the construction of the ship. Marianne, a journalist, seeks to unearth these faults in safety procedures while Professor Ted Scheider tries to warn patrons that the ship is built on an earthquake-prone fault line, both to little avail. We meet colorful characters and follow their interactions as they try to survive the increasingly fatal catastrophes that rock their boat.

“Disaster!” was written by Jack Plotnick and Seth Rudetsky to parody 70s disaster films such as “Airport,” “The Poseidon Adventure,” “Earthquake,” and “The Towering Inferno.” The show premiered in 2011 and debuted on Broadway in 2016. While it might not have a Broadway-sized stage or budget, “Disaster!” feels at home on the small Blank Canvas Theatre stage in the capable hands of Joanna Cullinan. Cullinan understands how to hit all the gags, gaffes and punchlines that make for a successful parody, and she guides her cast through these waters with precision.

Trey Gilpin plays the Barracuda’s proprietor, Tony. Gilpin feels right at home in his ultra-large glasses and oversized plaid jacket. He portrays the sleazy villain with plenty of humor so as to be unlikable, but also fun to watch. Tony’s girlfriend of the hour is Jackie, the ship’s lead performer who is embodied in this production by Sophia Eloise Edwards. Edwards is perfectly ditzy and her powerful vocals come across as effortless.

Jackie has brought her 11-year-old twins Ben and Lisa on board. Luke Jones dons a ball cap fitted with a wig and rushes to and fro behind the scenes in order to play both twins–an effort that is rewarded with laughs from an audience that never tires of the gag.

A talented Neely Gevaart plays the career-driven journalist Marianne. Gevaart is sweet, frazzled and inherently likable. Scenes with Tony Heffner as Chad, a staffer at the Barracuda and Marianne’s ex-fiance who she left at the altar, are notably cute. Heffner is a stand-out performer in his own right. His vocal range is impressive and best on display during an emotional and expressive rendition of “Without You.”

Also aboard the boat is the newly retired couple Shirley and Maury, played with energy and zeal by Kate Leigh Michalski and Kenny Lear, respectively. Angel Victoria Tyler showcases exceptional vocals in her role as Levora, a bygone disco star. A hilarious Natalie Golz plays Sister Mary Downy, a nun torn between her devotion to Jesus and her gambling addiction. Golz’s comedic interludes are golden.

In keeping with its homage to the 70s, this jukebox musical features over two dozen hits from the era, including “Hot Stuff,” “Still the One,” “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” and “Hooked on a Feeling,” to name a few. Music director Matthew Dolan leads a talented band that nails the sound. The songs are incorporated in interesting and playful ways that delight audiences, especially those of generations that recognize the popular tunes with the first few lyrics.

Blank Canvas has stocked its cast with talented vocalists who really know how to belt. Unfortunately, on opening night, the mics across the cast were either too hot or not hot enough, leading to unequal audio throughout the show.

Artistic director and founder of Blank Canvas Theatre, Patrick Ciamacco, supplied the technicolor lighting, projections and set design for this production. The set design features a semi-circular platform with a back wall that slides open and uses projections to represent different areas of the ship. In some of the seating on either side of Blank Canvas’ space, it can be difficult to see projections set farther down the stage, and extreme angles mean that some of the set ups for the gags are visible, but the silly nature of “Disaster!” makes these sightline issues more forgivable.

Luke Scattergood dressed the cast in all manner of 70s fare–from sequin dresses to turtlenecks, large jackets and voluminous hair–that becomes increasingly torn and tattered as disasters strike. Liz Baumgartner choreographs energetic and entertaining dance moves with and more than a little bit of thrusting.

Let’s face it–cheesy disaster movies are fun. If they weren’t, we would have never been blessed with comedy classics like “Airplane!,” “Zombieland,” “This is the End” and “Mars Attacks!” If you also enjoy kooky characters and self-aware, absurdist humor–as well as talented performances–”Disaster!” at Blank Canvas is sure to deliver a fun, laugh-out-loud night of theater.

“Disaster!” runs through June 28 at Blank Canvas Theatre
1305 West 78th Street, Suite 211, Cleveland. Visit blankcanvastheatre.com or call 440-941-0458 for tickets, $25.

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