For those of us on the Westside lucky enough to have seen the original “El Grande de Coca-Cola” at the Ruskin Group Theatre in 2013, or especially for those who missed all the fun and outrageous humor, the Off-Broadway extravaganza has spawned a sequel, ‘El Grande Circus De Coca-Cola’ now making its World Premiere in Los Angeles at the Skylight Theatre in Los Feliz. Noted for developing new works and nurturing contemporary playwrights, Skylight Theatre’s long association with writer (www.broadwayworld.com/people/Ron-House/) Ron House sparked development of this brilliantly funny new production.
The original musical was set in a small backwater town nightclub somewhere South of the Border where “Maestro de Show Business” Pepe Hernandez, along with his sons and daughters from his many wives, put on a show since they have no skills to do anything else.
When I reviewed that production, I called it an extravaganza of timeless skit humor, and even though most of that show, as well as the sequel, is performed in Spanish (more like Spanglish), it won’t matter a bit given the brilliance of each cast member to act out what is being said. The sequel stands on its own merit, with each character fully developed and depicted by the cast.
Flush with the imagined success of his nightclub floor show, El Grande “Maestro de Show Business,” Pepe Hernandez (riotous Marcelo Tubert who keeps the fast-paced fun rolling along), ups the ante and sets his sights on international fame with his “Star-Studded Traveling CIRCUS” with their first stop being – Hollywood. Pepe’s circus has landed in our backyard and the town will never be the same again. This Spanish Circus is sketch comedy as its best with a twist of Coca-Cola and tequila thrown in!
A word of warning for those who sit in the front row – be ready to participate as throughout the engaging musical, Pepe and several other cast members call on audience members to participate in their outrageous skits and may mistakenly identify you as stars they admire or will tantalize you with improvised banter on subjects you would never have imagined. Just play along for the laughs!
Due to a few wrong turns on the freeway, the show begins prior to Pepe’s late arrival with his lovely daughters blonde Consuelo (lovely and limber-limbed Lila Dupree, reprising the role in the Ruskin production) and Maria (brunette bombshell Olivia Cristina Delgado).
Think you resemble Robert Redford or Alfred Hitchcock? So will they, and it might earn you an invitation to Consuelo’s dressing room after the show! And if she misidentifies you as a movie director, get ready to accept a copy of Consuelo’s headshot and rather short resume.
These two energetic and multi-talented entertainers go through more costume changes than I could keep track of throughout the show, each one flaunting their Telenovela-style sexuality to the hilt. Yes, there is eye candy galore with tons of sparkle as well as comedic talent in the show! Special kudos to costume designer Sarah Figoten for again bringing such flash to these outrageous entertainers.
This also applies to the two young men in the Hernandez family. Paul Baird parodies every hot Latin lothario as Miquel, the group’s piano and accordion player. He displays enough swagger to melt the inhabitations of any woman in the audience – and probably quite a few of the men! Pratfall expert Aaron Miller portrays Juan, the group’s drummer and all-around fall guy (literally).
I especially got a kick out of his portrayal of Napoleon trying to load a cannonball, walking around on his knees with shoes attached, ending the skit with yet another laugh-inducing tumble!
I could go on and on about the different sketches in the show but I don’t want to spoil the surprises and fun. So get your tickets before the show sells out and be ready for a most laugh-filled and entertaining experience!
EL GRANDE CIRCUS DE COCA-COLA, written by Ron House (www.broadwayworld.com/people/Ron-House/),” directed with fun-loving skill and attention to detail by Alan Shearman (www.broadwayworld.com/people/Alan-Shearman/”), with technical wizards on the creative team including set designer John Iacovelli (www.broadwayworld.com/people/John-Iacovelli/”), Jeff McLaughlin (Light Designer), Tor Campbell (choreographer), and Jeff Faeth (Props Designer).
Performances continue through Sept. 20, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. at the Skylight Theatre Complex, located at 1816 ½ N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets are $34. Box Office: 213-761-7061.
