“LIZARD BOY” at Diversionary Theatre

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About

Aired on KSDS-FM on 10/28/16

RUN DATES: 9/29/16 – 11/6/16

VENUE: Diversionary Theatre

You don’t have to like monsters or sci fi or superheroes to love “Lizard Boy.”

This unexpectedly irresistible three-person “comic book musical fantasy” will make you laugh, and make you think: about people who are alienated because they look different, and seeing past the surface – in this case, green, scaly skin – to the humble person within, even if he turns out to have superpowers.

Trevor met a guy exactly one year ago, on the night of MonsterFest. The event commemorates the day a monster emerged from the erupting Mount St. Helens and forever affected the lives of six kindergarten kids, including Trevor, whose reptilian appearance was caused by dragon blood. Lots of weird stuff happens, and the plot repeatedly thickens.

After Trevor’s boyfriend dumped him, he locked himself away for a year. Now, on the one night when everyone dresses up, so he can feel normal, he ventures out, and meets lonely, affable Cary, as well as the sexy, dangerous Siren who’s been haunting his dreams.

This luscious little show, which debuted at Seattle Repertory Theatre in 2015, winning multiple awards, is the warped, wacky brainchild of Justin Huertas, who wrote the book, music and lyrics. His partners are Kirsten deLohr Helland and William A. Williams, all multi-talented multi-instrumentalists. They accompany themselves, sing gloriously, even a capella, and prove to be thoroughly charming and disarming.

Diversionary Theatre features the original cast, under the sharp and wildly imaginative direction of Brandon Ivie. The set is basic, the special effects are achieved vocally or musically, and there’s no defining makeup. It’s all left to the imagination, with the help of amusing cartoonish projections.

This musical cum concert, rife with catchy folk and indie-rock tunes, feels like a cross between the green of “Wicked,” the spoofy “Bat Boy” and the 3-person musical “Striking 12,” by the trio, Groovelily, which played at The Old Globe in 2003. But “Lizard Boy” is funnier, hipper and more clever.

Prepare yourself for 95 minutes of quirky songs and a touching story about opening your heart, triumphing over your demons and finding your power. Go get ‘em, Lizard Boy!