Billed as Vaudeville, Ghost Light Theatrical’s comedy revue Dr Thaddeus Q. Ballard’s Musical Follies Comedy Revue, was very welcome on a stormy January day in Seattle. Combining superb sketch comedy, improv, song, dance, corny jokes delivered brilliantly, parodies of 50’s acts along with some hilarious running gags, it was two hours of sheer entertainment.
Beginning with an African-American mime in, yes, you got it…white face, who kept appearing throughout the evening with impeccable comic timing, to a spoof on Riverdance, the humor was universal. I kept expecting Mae West to come on stage, it was THAT good. All of the actors were comedic geniuses, with impeccable timing and facial expressions worthy of the truly great comics of all time.
The basement space was set up like a Cabaret with a full bar, reminiscent of the nightclub in the movie Cabaret. Lori Lee Haener, a pianist and singer presented one of the best acts, as a bespectacled purveyor of the craigslist dating section. Another highlight was a bizarre parody of a Midwest striptease by Jen Ross who had a rifle, Lori Lee Haener with a Casserole and Molly Teller with a Fishing Pole. At least linguistically, this skit seemed straight out of Garrision Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion.
The Costuming was superbly outrageous beginning with the box-office attendant, Travis Roderick, who at 6’5” dressed in Black and White vertically striped tights appeared to be a giant. Later he showed up in drag as a pregnant woman about to be seduced by a German gynecologist.
Directors Emily Harvey, Beth Raas-Bergquist and Rob Raas-Berquist managed to make this show fairly raunchy but inoffensively funny.
Run to get a ticket before it sells out.
The Northwest Orca Cannery Presents: Dr. ThaddeusQ.Ballard’s Musical Follies & Comedy Revue. Presented by Ghost Light Theatricals. The Ballard Underground 2220 NW Market St. Ballard Seattle, WA 98107. Thur-Sat at 7:30, Sun, Jan 19 at 2 pm. Industry Night: Mon. Jan. 13. & Thurs Pay-what-you-can. Tickets http://orca.bpt.me/.www.ghostlighttheatricals.org