Hollywood Deep

Last week I went to a 99 seat, equity waiver musical at Hollywood’s Bootleg Theater, EVEL KNIEVEL THE ROCK OPERA. I normally would never go see a show like this. I mean, musical plays are not really my cup of tea. I liked Jersey Boys when I saw it on Broadway, but that show won the Tony Award and is about the Frankie Valli and the music industry. Add to it that, EVEL is a low budget show, done on a shoestring, with many production elements. Also there are no spoken words in the show, it’s a rock opera, so I was a bit skeptical going in. I really went because my new bride, Claire Martin, is part of the very talented ensemble of singers and dancers in the show. So whether I wanted to or not, I had to go.

I figured hey, Evel Knievel was one of my heroes when I was a kid. Growing up when I did, there were not many forms of entertainment. TV had only a handful of channels, there was no internet, no cable, no webcasts, or podcasts, or cellphone shows, not even a VCR or DVD player…NOTHING! Entertainment back then was at a premium, and Knievel was its most unusual star. So when ABC’s Wide World of Sports or some of the other networks would broadcast his jumps on TV, it was a big deal. We all dropped everything and gathered around the set. This crazy maniac was doing things that every kid could never imagine. He did things on a motorcycle that no one had ever seen before, kid or adult. He Jumped his bike through fire, over cars, trucks, buses, and he broke every bone in his body and kept jumping. Evel became an American Hero for an entire generation. So with an affection for the subject matter and an affection for my wife, I went to the show with an opened mind.

To say the least I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The whole experience was cool. Tickets were reasonably priced, so I brought some friends. The Bootleg Theater is a cool little spot, that has a nice bar in the lobby. They basically give away booze and ask for a donations, and you can even bring your drink into the theater for the show! We were having a good time before it even started.

The tagline for the show is 90 minutes of pure adrenaline, and it certainly was. Composer Jef Bek, and Jay Dover who provides additional music and lyrics, are the creative driving forces of the show. They, with Director Keythe Farley, put together a rocking band, playing all original music, and a great group of performers who sing their asses off. The story is told in the music and in the visuals that are projected on a screen above the stage. The use of old footage of some of Evel’s amazing motorcycle jumps, and spectacular falls, tied in seamlessly as the story unfolded. The show has a campy, tongue in cheek feel to it, in the spirit of Rocky Horror, and it has a great sense of nostalgia for the time. It’s one production number after another non stop for the entire show, over 40 songs.

The Cast is led by Chuck DiMaria, Evel Knievel, he gives it his all. He’s all over the stage, and even flying above it at times. The show could not be good without a good Evel and Chuck is good, and then some. DiMaria rocks the house, belting out song after song. He plays the role with a seriousness that allows the camp of the show around him to shine through. He is able to capture a character who had a tough guy persona, with song and dance. I mean who would ever think of Evel Knievel, and think about him singing and dancing in a stage show. DiMaria certainly pulls it off, the whole show pulls it off.

I had a great time, and I’m not just saying that, because my wife is in the show. The 90 minutes fly by, and in the 99 seat venue you are close to the action. You can feel the energy being put out by the performers, who are all top notch. I TOTALLY recommend it for a fun night out, packed with entertainment and production value. An awesome band, great singers and dancers, cool costumes, and Jef Bek’s excellent original music, are all smoothly meshed together under the direction of Keythe Farley.

You’ll get a great bang for your entertainment buck. Go see Evel Knievel singing and dancing and flying above the stage, at the Bootleg Theater in Hollywood.
…Evil DEEP!

Shows run every Thursday thru Sunday weekly, until October 28th.

Go to the EVEL KNIEVEL THE ROCK OPERA website. For ticket information and more about the show.

LA TIMES REVIEW

Evel Knievel’s Perfect Jump – Portland 1973

Technorati Tags: Hollywood’s Bootleg Theater, EVEL KNIEVEL THE ROCK OPERA, Jersey Boys, Broadway, Tony Award, Frankie Valli, music industry, Claire Martin, Evel Knievel, ABC’s Wide World of Sports, American Hero, Jef Bek, Jay Dover, Director Keythe Farley, Rocky Horror, Chuck DiMaria, Keythe Farley, Bootleg Theater, Hollywood