Thanks, mc mark. Still hoping to see some cc.net'ers at Tamalalia. Here's what the Chronicle had to say about it. From today's paper: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/headline/entertainment/1504214 'Tamalalia 7' stirs up hilarity with musical revue By EVERETT EVANS Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle What's beyond funny, hysterical? And beyond that? Tamalalia 7 -- The Love Show is a scream, a riot and just about every other synonym you can shake out of your thesaurus. For the uninitiated: Infernal Bridegroom Productions, Houston's over-the-edge theater, spends most of the year presenting avant-garde plays, challenging and bleak. But no theatrical troupe can live by Samuel Beckett and Maria Irene Fornes alone. So once a year, IBP presents a wacky musical revue directed, co-authored by and showcasing the troupe's gifted comic actress Tamarie Cooper -- a Tamalalia, if you will. This seventh edition, purportedly based on Cooper's romantic misadventures ("I proudly present to you my most intimate experiences and thoughts on love," pledges her program note), is the best yet. Past editions always were enjoyable but somewhat uneven, the satire spotty. This time, the script by Cooper and Andy Nelson is consistently hilarious. The spoofy songs, with droll lyrics by Cooper and Nelson and lively music by Anthony Barilla, are unpredictably zany fun. Always a delightful performer, Cooper has become a splendid satirist, with an increasingly refined sense of the ridiculous. Using herself as a vehicle, Cooper sends up the eternal search for that impossible ideal of romantic bliss. The tongue-in-cheek tone is established in her opening speech, explaining why she deserves her "very own Harlequin romance" with such self-description as: "My hair is long, lustrous and lovable; my bosom is heaving with anticipation ... " Her fling with the "stable boy" is interrupted by Nelson, who pops up throughout to burst Cooper's bubbles of romantic fantasy with pinpricks of good-humored cynicism. In this case, he lists all the things that can (and usually do) go wrong with relationships. From the high-energy opening with the cast raising a '60s-style hullabaloo (Cooper's choreography is as funny as any Austin Powers sequel), this is a succession of highlights. One scene finds Cooper getting dumped with the standard apologies: "It's not you, it's me." Amid the date from hell, Cupid appears to get Cooper and her lackluster swain in the mood, but it's Cupid as you've never seen him before: chunky, cigar-chomping Noel Bower taking charge like a mob hitman. Cooper plays The Dating Game with three hopeless contestants, gurgling such insinuating questions as: "If I was a salad, what dressing would you pour on me?" Backed by a stage full of giddy brides, Cooper seems about to realize her fantasy of wedding Tom Selleck -- even though her big beaming idol is (literally) just a cardboard cutout. The pièce de résistance is the Parade of Tamarie's Ex-Boyfriends, with Cooper and Nelson spouting bright commentary as if hosting the Macy's Parade. We marvel at such figures as Paul Locklear's self-absorbed Tortured Intellectual Guy, Patrick Reynolds' alarming Racist Rockabilly Guy and Kyle Sturdivant's Stalker Guy, his Tamarie Doll clenched in his fist like a popsicle. Sturdivant's psycho is so funny-crazy it's scary. This sequence is a brilliant comic concept, expertly executed; it could go in a textbook of comedy writing. The entire company is in tune with Cooper's inspired foolery, Caretta Bell adds a fine vocal for the philosophical (We Still Don't Know) The Meaning of the Show, and the band cooks. If you're in the mood for love -- but especially if you're in the mood for laughs, make a date with Tamarie Cooper and her crazy crew. If there's any justice, IBP will be extending this one. P.S. Tamarie, this review is sealed with a kiss. Cupid strikes again. Tamalalia 7 -- The Love Show When: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, through Aug. 17 Where: The Axiom, 2524 McKinney Tickets: $10-$15; 713-522-8443
It was a real hoot.. .I was busting a gut during some of those scenes.... I saw you there Batman Jones... but I didn't get a chance to say hello/introduce myself... next time. If any of you folks like funny, local humour, this show is right up your alley... it has lots of local references and Tamarie's CUPID character must be scene firsthand...!!! Not to mention, Tom Selleck, the hari krishna's, racist rockabilly boyfriend, the critics and the fabulous back up singers! Treat yourself, go see this show!
Last call for Tamalalia, folks. We're sold out for our entire run and most of the extension. If you wanna see it, call us by tomorrow or it'll all be gone. The show and its star Tamarie (who's a huge Rockets fan) will be the cover story for this Sunday's Zest. The only performances that aren't sold out right now are Saturday, 8/24 at 10:30pm and Thurs, Fri, Sat Aug 29, 30 and 31 at 8. Call 713-522-8443 for tickets. Ask for Jason and you can talk to the real Batman Jones. RockHEAD's already been and heypartner and backwardhead have reservations. Love to see some more of you out here. B. Jones
I just called and left a message to buy tickets for the 8/31 show. So add me to the list of cc.net'ers that will be there. I look forward to meeting you Batman.
Hey Batman, I hope your show is going well. I'm sorry I'm not in Houston or I'd come see it. Make sure and come back on the boards to let those of us who couldn't see it know how it went. Thanks!
freeflowin', glad you're coming. Please be sure to introduce yourself. As for the rest of you, even though we've extended the show as far as possible (through Aug. 31), we're now sold out for all performances. We are taking standby reservations though, if you're feeling lucky. In case you didn't get the Sunday paper, here's what you're missing: http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/ae/zest/index.html
Batman the show sounds great! I know it's been extended, but in case you guys extend it even more please let me know. I live in NY but my wife and I will be in Houston just after the show closes... That's great that it's doing so well and attracting large audiences too. I'm an actor/writer/teacher/dancer/whatever else pays the bills, in New York, and we have two shows going up in January. If you have any plans to be here then, just let me know.
Hey FranchiseBlade, Unfortunately there's no chance of further extension. We already have just two weeks to tear down the T7 set, build the next one, tech and open. What have you got going on in January? It's possible I'll be in NYC then. I'm not in rehearsal that month. I also have many friends in the city I could try and send your way.
