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Based on the review below, this show is at minimum R-rated, I'd say. I think 'pookle' at the clackhouse should have gone into a bit more detail. I mean there's someone on that board now saying they may think about taking their young kid and mother-in-law to see it, based on 'pookle's' g-rated summary.

Also, keeping in mind all the false garbage that the 'media' has printed about him, I'd be interested in knowing exactly how the various actors in this play portray Clay. As a fan, if these people are screwing with Clay's character and integrity, no way would I want to 'support' them.

The full review with advisories:


Post Standard Review:

blog.syracuse.com/critics...sical.html


QUOTE
"Idol: The Musical"

Posted by Chuck Klaus June 01, 2007 10:40PM
Categories: Chuck Klaus, Musicals, Theater
Idol: The Musical Review
By Chuck Klaus

Who: Syracuse Civic Theater and BiPolar Productions.

What: "Idol: The Musical" Music and Lyrics by Jon Balcourt, Book and Lyrics by Bill Boland, Concept and Production by Todd Ellis.

Where: Mulroy Civic Center, Oncenter, Syracuse.

When: Friday, June 1st, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

Attendance: 520.

Duration: One hour, fifty-five minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.

Advisories: Language, strong sexual content

In Brief: Teen Musical Comedy of Today.

Imagine, if you will, a combination of elements from "Bye, Bye Birdie," "A Chorus Line," "Fame," "The Breakfast Club," and "High School Musical" - with a higher quotient of sexual humor. Further imagine such elements mixing in a story concerning the socials effects of Clay Aiken and you pretty much have a fix on "Idol: The Musical."

The work, with Music and Lyrics by Jon Balcourt, and Book and Lyrics by Bill Boland - from a concept by producer Todd Ellis - had a first performance Friday before a highly reactive and appreciative crowd.

"Idol" is about a somewhat improbable social group of high school seniors, evidently bound together by their worshipful devotion to "American Idol" second season second-placer Clay Aiken.

The gathered characters are the stuff of kid movie stereotyping - The bookworm Cicaida, (Courtney Ellis) theatrical Kodi, (Roy George) Punker Cass, (Nikita Richards) and Tom-Boy grease monkey Alex (Jennie Riverso.)

Other personas on display are a Jock turned dancer, J.D.; a Garth Brooks wannabe, Duncan; a nerdish, introspective pianist, Conner; and a girl with an impossible crush on Aiken, Emily. (Joe Walker, Del Caraway, show composer Jon Balcourt, and Joella Burt.) And, just for a bit of dramatic spice, add a prima donna-type with her own schemes for advancement, Adrienne. (Babs Rubinstein.)

The numbers are never less than serviceable, and several are quite appealing. "Discipline," about the need to practice the entertainment craft, is an early standout, while "Quakin' for Aiken" also lingers in memory, possibly due to the lyric "We're quakin' for Aiken, and shakin' our bacon."

Staging and Direction by Dan Tursi is generally active, and Choreography by Jason Bumpus and Joe Walker is well-tailored for the group. Brian Howard's simple scenic design gives the action plenty of space, and Music Director, orchestrator, composer, stand-up pianist and pretty decent character actor Jon Balcourt keeps things moving along.

There are some notable quibbles, if one looks for them - the arbitrary manner in which the Aiken idolaters assemble, sexual humor which makes the piece slightly difficult for younger viewers - or at least for the parents of slightly younger viewers - the use of drunkenness as a comic bit, and a somewhat preachy finale.

Whatever its limitations, "Idol: The Musical," kept a mainly young audience entertained, laughing and sufficiently diverted to (generally) refrain from text-messaging for nearly two hours -quite an achievement for any enterprise in mid-2007.

Portion above in italics edited with less descriptive paraphrasing than original due to our TOUs- CS