(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Balagan's Jerry Springer, the Opera, is White Trash, at its Best!

Larson on the Pole   /Balagan

by MK Scott
I must confess I am Not a Big Fan of the Jerry Springer show and its combative way of its guests and the judgmental nature of its studio audience. But you know I enjoy Good theater, especially created from Pop Culture.

So I was curious to attend Balagan/STG's production of 'Jerry Springer, the Opera' this past weekend at Seattle's Moore Theater.

Act ONE was the introduction of characters that are the over the top guests of the Jerry Springer Show. All, but Jerry, sing with an operatic voice and thanks to lyrics appearing above the stage you see as well as her, so many 4 letter words. Act 2 Jerry is between Heaven and Hell, and Act 3, Jerry s forced to do a show in Hell as it becomes a story of Good Vs. Evil.

Jerry Springer: The Opera is a British musical written by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee, based on the television show The Jerry Springer Show.

The musical, according to Wiki,  ran for 609 performances in London from April 2003 to February 2005 before touring the UK in 2006. The production won four Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. The first North American performance was at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to benefit Golden Rainbow, featuring performers for the then-current versions of The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, and other Las Vegas Strip theatrical shows. The musical has been performed by a number of American regional theatre companies and made its New York City debut on 29–30 January 2008 at Carnegie Hall. Harvey Keitel starred as Jerry Springer.

It was great see great performances by some Seattle's top performers including Seattle Indie Rock Legend, Sean Nelson (from Harvey Danger) as Satan. Seattle Opera star, Megan Chenovick as Baby Jane and the hilarious, Bo Mellinger is a once again (He played a whore in Les Miz last fall) in a Gender Bending role of Tremont!

Bo as Tremont!                                /Balagan

As I mentioned in Act One, it was about introducing Jerry (Brandon Felker) and the craziest and white trash guests you could meet. Starting with Dwight (Evan Woltz) and his cheating on his wife, Peaches (Chenovick) with Trashy Zandra (Jennifer Bromagen) and cheating on Zandra with transsexual, Tremont (Played by the FAB, Bo Mellinger). (Tremont, interestingly had a short Miley style Hairstyle,) 

Jerry's second guest, Montel (Kevin Douglass), tells his partner, Andrea (Rachel Deshon), that he likes to dress as a baby and that he is cheating on her with Baby Jane (Chenovick), a woman who dresses as a little girl. Jerry's Warm-Up Man (Sean Nelson) contributes to Andrea's humiliation and is fired. Jerry again wrestles with his inner demon. Jerry's final guests are Shawntel (Lindsey Larson) and her husband, Chucky (Brian Lange). She wants to be a stripper and demonstrates a dance before her mother, Irene (Bromagen), arrives. Irene attacks Shawntel. Chucky pleads innocence, but Jerry's secret JerryCam camera footage shows that Chucky is a patron of strip clubs and a Ku Klux Klan member. The Klan comes up on stage and does a spectacular tap dance routine, and the Warm Up Man gives Montel a gun and  jostles Montel, who accidentally shoots Jerry.

Now in a short Act 2 and later in Act 3, the action really takes places as it is about Jerry being taken to task for not giving resolutions to his guests that unpleasant fates. Satan forces Jerry to return to Hell with him to do a special show for the ultimate confrontation with God. Also taken to task are Adam (Lange), Eve (Larson) and Jesus (Douglass).  Everyone turns against Jerry, who hopes for a miracle. The Price of Failure includes Jerry being poked by a Barb-wire cover Dildo!

It's Satan vs. God as Jerry looks on!               /Balagan

At the moment of Truth, Jerry finally finds the word of compromise,  but finally gives up and makes an honest statement that resounds with his audience. Devils, angels, and everyone sing a hymn of praise to life. Jerry comes to in the studio and is able to give closure and is ready to Join God in the staircase to Heaven.

Act 3 had all the aspects of a tragic opera, and would have been the major focus, as Act one spent too much time to show how white trashy the show is itself. In Act 3, Jerry the Man emerged and show that he is just a chess piece in the overwhelming median of Power of Celebrity.

Balagan's Jerry Springer the Opera continues through January 26th at the Seattle Moore Theater, Click Here for Info.