The Tempest

Issue date: 3/21/07 Section: Entertainment

Follow the bats right into Solano College Theater's rib-splitting, savory-to-the-last-bite, musical frolic that snatches its headline title and scene-stealing bits of everything else strange from Star magazine-style tabloids.

The show is centered around the town veterinarian not-so-Father-Knows-Best-appearing family taking in the "pointy- eared boy thing".

Kat McFadden is charming as the fickle teenage daughter Shelley who displays her repulsion and fascination as she begs to keep the caged boy like a stray pet, taunts him with jerk boy Rick Taylor in the Rap-flavored "Whatcha Wanna Do," and becomes surprisingly attached as his biggest defender.

Solano stage veteran Barbara McFadden is Mama Meredith whose standout performances range throughout the show; she is the picture of propriety in her Christian Charity endearing in her fawning affection for the bat boy she names Edgar.

She plays well with real life daughter K. McFadden and is hilarious as she plays off of Edgar, barters the carrot of wifely favors to have her husband vet spare the boy's life, and then runs her family right on through dad.

Seth Michael Anderson as the fanged bat boy is pure pleasure. The unspeaking freak dressed in prison orange that evolves into an articulate English-accented, tea-serving novelty. As momma says, those BBC tapes work wonder.

Then he takes you right in to feel the heartbreak rejection of being the different guy who, like Johnny Depp's Edward Scissorhands, will do anything to be accepted.

The timing rolls as everyone and everything plays off of him in his use of body language, facial expression, and his beautiful voice in a cooing Mogwai style duet with Mrs. Parker.

Paul Plain is outstanding as the alienated vet Dr. Parker who preys upon Edgar's secret need to keep Meredith's affections. He ranges from the entertainingly creepy to a put-off and understandably jealous husband and father. In over the top moments, his deranged character is reminiscent of a more musical version of the love to hate quirks of Vincent D'Onofrio's overgrown bug guy villain from Men in Black.

George Maquire masterfully directs his talented cast in this quirky ride that could easily go too far toward cornball humor that plays right to the edge of moonshine dangerous pleasure that rolls.

A strong ensemble cast with commendable vocals under the direction of Music director Joseph Anderson and the clever choreography of Liz Andrews carries the fun of the oddities played out under the Bible belt veneer of this not so Mayberry town.

The all around talents of this ensemble cast come out from the first notes of Ted in the company opener "Hold Me Bat Boy." He is joined by the home town crew that includes his cattle friendly, good ol' boy partner Ned , Mayor Maggie , and the Latin Chiquita and cross-dressed Daisy .

Sheriff Reynolds is at times stiff as the election hungry hick
Out in the name of "Christian Charity".

John Rivard brings down the house as the handbag beating big mama diva and does it again as he doubles as the Reverend Hightower.

Audience are to be warned that the deserved PG-13 advisement does not come from the nudity in the opening scenes with the discovery of the seemingly butt-naked bat boy in the dimly lit bat cave setting. Rather, it's the dive into the ride of adult laced taboos that could make Saturday Night Live blush in jealousy.

The play borrows shamelessly with a taste of everything. It boldly twists itself during the beautiful "Godspell" type moment that features the rich vocals of Eddie Voyce, as the faun Pan singing "Children Children." He calls, "children to come together in love," in an unbridled unity of all creatures. That makes you want to cry "that so bad" as you can't help yourself from laughing along.

The bat cave set designed by award-winning designer Andrea Bechert perfectly sets the shows atmosphere. But it may be too good. One has to wonder if it isn't more than coincidence that the grand, but dominatingly dark cavern design, may be drawing in the unusual increase in bat activity in the theater

Maguire laughs as he announces the presence of the bat theater's resident 1400 building extras. He assures the audience they are harmless.

This must see musical runs through March 31st, playing at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. For tickets, ranging from $10 to $25, call 864-7100 or go online to www.solano.edu/theatre.


----------------------------------------please let Kristi read before approving....do not post....Follow the bats right in to Solano College Theater’s rib splitting, savory to the last bite, musical frolic that steals its headline title and scene stealing bits of everything else strange from Star magazine style tabloids.

The show is centered around the town veterinarian’s not so “Father Knows Best� appearing family taking in the “pointy eared boy thing�.

Kat McFadden is charming as the fickle teenage daughter Shelley who displays her repulsion and fascination as she begs to keep the caged boy like some stray pet, taunts him with jerk boy Rick Taylor in the Rap flavored “Whatcha Wanna Do�, and becomes surprisingly attached as his biggest defender.

Solano stage veteran Barbara McFadden is Mama Meredith who’s standout performances range throughout the show; She is the picture of propriety in her “Christian Charity�; endearing in her fawning affection for the bat boy she names Edgar.

She plays well with real life daughter K. McFadden and is hilarious as she plays off of Edgar, barters the carrot of wifely favors to have her husband vet spare the boys life, and then runs her family right on through dad.

Seth Michael Anderson as the fanged bat boy is pure pleasure. The unspeaking freak dressed in prison orange that evolves into an articulate English accented, tea serving novelty. As momma says, “those BBC tapes work wonders�

Then he takes you right in to feel the heartbreak rejection of being the different guy who like Johnny Depps Edward Scissor Hands will do anything to be accepted.

The timing rolls as everyone and everything plays off of him in his use of body language, facial expression, and his beautiful voice in a cooing Mogwai style duet with Mrs. Parker.

Paul Plain is outstanding as the alienated vet Dr. Parker who preys upon Edgar’s secret need to keep Meredith’s affections. He ranges from the entertainingly creepy to in turn become momentarily sympathetic in understandable jealously as the put off husband/father. In over the top moments his deranged character is reminiscent of a more musical version of the love to hate quirks of Vincent D'Onofrio’s over grown “bug guy� villain from Men in Black.


George Maquire masterfully directs his talented cast in this quirky ride that could easily go too far in the corn ball humor that plays ripe to the edge of moonshine dangerous pleasure that rolls.

A strong ensemble cast with commendable vocals under the direction of Music director Joseph Anderson and the clever choreography by Liz Andrews carry the fun of the oddities played out under the Bible belt veneer of this not so Mayberry town.

The all around talents of this ensemble cast come out from the first notes of Ted in the company opener “Hold Me Bat Boy.� He is joined by the home town crew that includes his cattle friendly good old boy partner Ned , Mayor Maggie , and the Latin Chiquita and cross dressed Daisy .

Sheriff Reynolds is at times stiff as the election hungry hick
Out in the name of “Christian Charity�.

John Rivard brings down the house as the hand bag beating big mama diva and does it again as he doubles as the Reverend Hightower.

Audience are to be warned that the deserved PG 13 advisement does not come from the nudity of the opening scenes discovery of the seemingly butt naked bat boy in the dimly lit bat cave setting

The first act seems to be is a fun if campy but not too innocent musical take on "the don’t judge the odd one" Edward Scissors Hand type story. But that is just the beginning of the dive into the ride of adult laced taboos that could make Saturday Night Live blush in jealousy.

The play borrows shamelessly with a taste of everything. It sails through and nervingly twists even in the beautiful “Godspell� type moment that features the rich vocals of Eddie Voyce, as the faun Pan singing “Children Children.� He calls, “children to come together in love….� In an unbridled unity of…….all creatures. That make you want to cry “that’s so bad� as you can’t help yourself from laughing along.

The bat cave set designed by award winning designer Andrea Bechert perfectly sets the shows atmosphere. But it may be too good. One has to wonder if it isn’t more than coincidence that the grand but dominatingly dark cavern design may be drawing in the unusual increase in bat activity in the theater

Maguire laughs as he announces presence of the bat theater’s resident 1400 building r extras. He assures the audience they are harmless.
This must see musical runs through March 31st at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. For tickets, $10 to $25, call 864-7100 or go online to www.solano.edu/theatre.

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