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‘Ruthless’ spoofs unbridled ambition

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By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer 6:52 PM Thursday, February 4, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — Take several selfishly ambitious characters, mix in elements of classic 1940s movie melodramas, then throw in a few songs and dance numbers, and you’ve got “Ruthless! The Musical.”

Middletown Lyric Theatre opens the dark comedy Thursday, Feb. 11. The show, which features all female roles, runs through Feb. 14.

Ruthless centers around the various calamities that happen when an 8-year-old named Tina Denmark vies for the lead in a school play about Pippi Longstocking. Suffice it to say that when she doesn’t get the part, she does not take it well.

The musical, written by Marvin Laird and Joel Paley, mixes in and mocks elements of productions about cruelly ambitious people, such as “Gypsy,” “All About Eve,” “Mildred Pearce” and “The Bad Seed.”

“The Bad Seed” part of the show comes in the form of Tina, played by Cara Severson, 12, who played the lead in “Annie” at La Comedia Dinner Theatre last year.

“I’ve never played an evil person. It’s different. I try to have fun with it, fake crying and trying to get in the most amount of trouble,” Severson said.

Then there’s the role of slick agent Sylvia St. Croix. Duane Gordon, the man playing the woman, explained that the role was written for a woman, but a drag queen ended up originating the role, so the “drag” part stuck for future productions.

If Gordon’s name sounds familiar, that’s because he’s the executive director of the Middletown Community Foundation. And this isn’t the first time he’s played the part of St. Croix. He took it on in college, too.

Gordan said he quickly discovered that “high heels hurt, bras itch, and pantyhose has to be the most uncomfortable thing man ever created.”

Jessica Waldman plays Tina’s mother, Judy, “a very chipper” character who is “completely out of my comfort zone,” Waldman said. Pam Steiniger plays Tina’s teacher, Myrna Thorn, who incurs Tina’s wrath when she dares not to give her the lead role on the school play. But the teacher has her own issues.

“She always wanted to be a star and ended up as a third-grade play director. In her own mind, she’s a star,” Steiniger said.

Also in the cast are Misty Griesinger, Joy Sharp, Heather Crowe and Melissa Patrick.

Despite the unlikable characters, director Charley Shafor said, “This is a likable show from the inside to the outside. It’s like the ‘Seinfeld’ cast. They’re not likable people, but they’re fun to watch.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836

or erobinette@coxohio.com.

6 | L!FE | FEBRUARY 5, 2010 | HAMILTON JOURNALNEWS

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