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Comedy Mon Jun 04 2012
Review: Attend The Tale Of Danny Tanner: A Full House Musical
As a '90s child and a cynic, I was apprehensive when I sat down in the front row at Gorilla Tango Theater to see Attend The Tale of Danny Tanner: A Full House Musical. The show, which runs every Wednesday through June 27 at Gorilla Tango, takes a creative and twisted look at what it might be like if TV's lovable super-dad had a dark side. When all was said and done, I was able to see the light, and quickly admitted that this show isn't just good, it's pretty brilliant.
Right out of the gate, we learn that Danny Tanner has a secret dark side that includes murder, lying and, like any good musical, singing. Tanner, played by Rob Speer, was delightfully creepy, and nailed the underlying OCD that all of us assumed Danny Tanner must have had. Nobody is that concerned with cleanliness unless they haven't properly dealt with their wife's death.
Uncle Jesse, played by James Dolbeare, and Uncle Joey, played by Chris Gorton, are in on Danny's secret, but decide early on that they need to stop him. What ensues is a hilarious, surprising and sometimes bloody peek into the Tanner house that we never saw in the series' run.
The cast did an amazing job of capturing the quirks and character traits that were so specific to the show, while adding little twists to each one. Supporting the men were Katie Johnston-Smith as DJ, Meghan M. Hillmeyer as Stephanie and Ali Keirn as Michelle.
Unlike the series, in this show we learn that the girls aren't quite as innocent, the men aren't quite as wholesome and that Kimmy Gibbler may, in fact, be the smartest of the bunch. I can't tell you what happens because that would spoil all of the fun, but I never thought hearing Michelle Tanner use the F word, and seeing DJ's sweet boyfriend Steve face an untimely demise could actually be funny.
Technically, the show was outstanding. The cast brought it with professional-grade lyrics and choreography that reminded me what it is I like so much about musical theater -- there is a delicate balance between good and cheesy, and this cast and crew should be very proud of their work.
The show has sold out nearly every show so far, so I would suggest buying tickets in advance. Go see this show before it sells out and the run ends, you won't regret it.
Photo, L-R: Ali Keirn (Michelle Tanner), Rob Speer (Danny Tanner), James Dolbeare (Jesse Katsopolis),Katie Johnston-Smith (DJ Tanner), and Chris Gorton (Joey Gladstone) Lying down: Meghan M. Hillmeyer (Stephanie Tanner). Photo by Brian Work
