2008 Woodie Awards
Nearly naked musical makes for colorful comedy
Rachel Nutt
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Features
Purple, glittering curtains hung from the ceiling, the studio theatre of the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building was packed full of people, and it was Jan. 31, opening night of Underwear the Musical.
The play, written by Brandon Gwinn, a current MTSU student, and Heidi Ervin, 2006 alumna, was like no other I've seen. I tend to base a play's success on its ability to make me think. When a production is taken in a new direction or the plot is simply thought-provoking, I am generally not disappointed. But what, I asked myself, could someone like me get out of a self-professed "irreverent" play called Underwear the Musical? And that was the first remarkable thing about it.
Underwear the Musical is being evaluated at the Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards Program for both the Musical Theatre Award and the Mark Twain Award for comic playwriting nationally.
The story follows Piper Smallton, played by Alli Scott, as she left her communal, mock 1950s lifestyle behind and ends up getting a job as an assistant at a revolutionary, nontraditional modeling corporation. Piper then meets and falls for Andi, a good-looking if uneducated fashion icon played by Matthew Frazier-Smith, and becomes friends with an aging but once it-girl Dylan Dior, played by Brandye Kemp.
This is no ordinary modeling agency, though. It is the ground-breaking, line-crossing business known as Patty's Panties. Throughout the play the models were all scantily clad, but what costumes did exist involve sequins, spandex, sparkles and the like. Jon Bumpus, who played the colorful role of a homoerotic male model called Beam, says audiences of any future productions "can expect to be blown away by some fantastic characters and wonderful musical numbers while being sucked into some other-worldly, neon-colored futuristic place."
Maybe the idea of writing such an outrageous play seems easy, but it took Gwinn and Ervin years to perfect. Playwriting is often much more involved than say, writing a novel. The playwright has to consider space, budget and other complications when writing. Unlike a novel, most of the story must be portrayed through dialogue. The process is very time consuming.
The play, written by Brandon Gwinn, a current MTSU student, and Heidi Ervin, 2006 alumna, was like no other I've seen. I tend to base a play's success on its ability to make me think. When a production is taken in a new direction or the plot is simply thought-provoking, I am generally not disappointed. But what, I asked myself, could someone like me get out of a self-professed "irreverent" play called Underwear the Musical? And that was the first remarkable thing about it.
Underwear the Musical is being evaluated at the Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards Program for both the Musical Theatre Award and the Mark Twain Award for comic playwriting nationally.
The story follows Piper Smallton, played by Alli Scott, as she left her communal, mock 1950s lifestyle behind and ends up getting a job as an assistant at a revolutionary, nontraditional modeling corporation. Piper then meets and falls for Andi, a good-looking if uneducated fashion icon played by Matthew Frazier-Smith, and becomes friends with an aging but once it-girl Dylan Dior, played by Brandye Kemp.
This is no ordinary modeling agency, though. It is the ground-breaking, line-crossing business known as Patty's Panties. Throughout the play the models were all scantily clad, but what costumes did exist involve sequins, spandex, sparkles and the like. Jon Bumpus, who played the colorful role of a homoerotic male model called Beam, says audiences of any future productions "can expect to be blown away by some fantastic characters and wonderful musical numbers while being sucked into some other-worldly, neon-colored futuristic place."
Maybe the idea of writing such an outrageous play seems easy, but it took Gwinn and Ervin years to perfect. Playwriting is often much more involved than say, writing a novel. The playwright has to consider space, budget and other complications when writing. Unlike a novel, most of the story must be portrayed through dialogue. The process is very time consuming.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Cindy Phiffer
posted 2/04/08 @ 11:43 AM CST
Great review! Although we had planned to attend, our plans were dashed at the last minute. Sounds like quite a production. Congratulations go to the playwrights. (Continued…)
Cindy Phiffer
posted 2/04/08 @ 11:53 AM CST
Am signed in now. Please notify me of followup comments via email. Thanks, Cindy
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