Aliens Coming Review
The unique and uproarious musical, “Aliens Coming”, has returned to The People’s Improv Theater after a previously sold out run. Under the directorship of Griffin Osborne, the talents of writer Joe Kelly and musical director Jonathan Evans, “Aliens Coming” beautifully merges contemporary music, classic show tunes and campy humor.
The musical follows the friendship of high school seniors, Brandi Boudoir (Maia Scalia) and Clementine Tweedy (Alice Kors), who have incredibly different outlooks on friendship and life. The beginning of the story takes place at an avant-garde art party hosted by Clementine, who seeks the approval of the American Spirit smoking Cool Art Kids. Brandi hates the Cool Art Kids, and loves makeup tutorials and can not wait to go to the state school and join a sorority. Clementine reveals to Brandi that she wants to attend Emerson University as a film student, which causes Brandi to leave the party in outrage and also causes Brandi to be abducted by Zooby Doober (Trevor McGhie), a Flimp from the planet of Flimpton. While abducted, Zooby uses Brandi’s emotional vulnerability to make her believe that he can make her famous for her Youtube makeup tutorial videos by giving her a necklace with special powers. Truthfully he is giving her the power of mind-control over all the humans who watch her makeup tutorials, and will make her control them as he wants. After learning that Zooby has a secret plan to harvest the genitals of the entire human race, Brandi makes it her mission to stop him. In the midst of Brandi being abducted and taking over the world, Clementine runs into Zooby’s hapless assistant, Smib. They end up sleeping together and Smib learns that contrary to what Zooby had been telling him, sex is not evil and that he does not want to get rid of genitals. Clementine, Brandi, and Smib join forces to save the human race and all of their genitals.
"Aliens Coming” truly has something for everyone in this unorthodox scrutiny of youth, identity, sex and technology. If you are not one for raunchy comedy, perhaps you will appreciate the fantastic musical numbers, the genius writing, or the passion the actors put into their performances. People with an interest in fashion will appreciate the fabulous costumes for the aliens, white bedazzled jumpsuits and light-up sneakers. The energy on stage was contagious, it was clear that everyone that was a part of the cast and crew had a great time putting this show together and loved performing it. The audience was invested in every minute of the show, you are unlikely to find a room filled with smiling New-Yorkers anywhere else. If you have the time, spend the ten dollars to see a show worth much more.
The cast features Alice Kors, Maia Scalia, Andrew L. Ricci, Trevor McGhie, Ariana Raygoza, Rebecca Lampiasi, Ashley Hutchinson and Tessa Stokes. Aliens Coming is Produced by Jonathan Evans, Joe Kelly and James Young of Ashcat Productions. Aliens Coming will be playing in the PIT up until September 18th. Buy tickets here.
Special thanks to Bianca from Shark Party Media. Photo credit: Jackie Abbott Photography.
