Ruthless | 08.01–24.24, Stray Dog Theatre

In Ruthless, talent kills… and if you get in her way, a certain young actress will do more than break a leg.

The dark comedy Ruthless gained an instant cult following after its off-Broadway debut in 1992. There’s plenty to recommend: an all-female cast, a delightfully devious songbook, and fourth wall-breaking humor (like a song titled “I Hate Musicals”). I had the opportunity to see Stray Dog Theatre’s latest production of the musical melodrama, which spoofs ’50s films like The Bad Seed and All About Eve. My expectations were high; I’ve seen terrific, off-kilter musicals at Stray Dog in the past, including Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The talented cast of Ruthless did not disappoint… but if the plot of Ruthless is to be believed, you may want to stay away from such talented people.

Ruthless tells the story of Judy Denmark (played here by Sarah Gene Dowling), a housewife who lives to dust, polish, and dote on her daughter, Tina (Finley Mohr), a born entertainer with outsized ambition. Their bright-yellow, Lysol-scented paradise is darkened by the arrival of Sylvia St. Croix (Sarajane Clark), a shady talent agent who sees potential in Tina. Tina and Sylvia think it’s time for her big break: she must play Pippi Longstocking in “Pippi in Tahiti,” a musical written by frustrated third grade teacher Myrna Thorne (Anna Langdon). But when talentless classmate Louise Lehrman (Sarah Lantsberger) gets in Tina’s way, she unleashes the green-eyed monster that is… TALENT. The story eventually moves from ’50s suburbia to the Big Apple, and the body count keeps growing.

The Ruthless songbook covers a lot of ground. Songs range from the cheery “Born to Entertain” (which introduces the budding psychopath Tina, armed with a squirt gun) to the dramatic second-act duet “Parents and Children.” “I Hate Musicals,” sung by the acid-tongued, boozing theater critic Lita Encore (Laura Kyro), has some of the cleverest lines: “Gangs don’t look tough / When they twirl and they snap / My gorge starts to rise / If a nun starts to tap / And wouldn’t you just love / To slap Maria von Trapp?” Each member of the ensemble sings beautifully and injects every line (sung or spoken) with character. The house band tunefully keeps the score; the recurring theme “Talent” was stuck in my head for days.

Ruthless has an excellent script, and the show is enhanced by the creative flourishes I’ve come to expect from Stray Dog Theatre. Even if you don’t appreciate all the theater-nerd meta-humor, you’ll appreciate the top-notch physical comedy, ad libs, and perfectly timed lines. One gets the impression that these actors have performed together for years. They seem like a real family—albeit a disturbing, deeply dysfunctional one. Witness Judy Denmark’s fluttering eyelids and rolled Rs whenever the mysterious actress Ruth Delmarco (or R-r-r-r-r-UTH DelMaR-r-R-R-rco) is mentioned. Hear what the seemingly-sweet (but borderline psychopathic) Tina says when she doesn’t get the part. It can’t be reprinted here. The excellent set design provides a deceptively wholesome 50s-sitcom backdrop for the depraved antics that will unfold. It must also be mentioned that Stray Dog Theatre, a converted church, is a beautiful building with excellent acoustics. I cannot wait to come back for their October show: Nevermore, a tribute to Edgar Allen Poe. The stained glass windows will provide a suitably gothic atmosphere.

Ruthless capped its successful run on Saturday August 24. If you’re hungry for more Stray Dog food, come back October 10 through November 2 for Nevermore. And if you’re an acting student (or the parent of an aspiring actor), look into the “Stray Pups” program. It’ll show you the ropes of acting, set design and stage management, and you may have the chance to participate in an upcoming production. Just be sure to learn from Tina and Judy’s mistakes… and watch out for talented people. | Rob Von Nordheim

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