By Ed Kaufman

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Adapted from the 1928 book-length
poem by Joseph Moncure Marsh, "The Wild Party" -- a West Coast
premiere -- captures the sights and sounds of a bygone Prohibition
era with a nod to the present one. It's dark, thought-provoking and
wonderfully realized by savvy director David Henning and the talented
and energized actors of the Blank Theater Company.

With music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa, who co-wrote the book
with George C. Wolfe, "The Wild Party" is what the title implies --
the night of a wild party that ends tragically. All is set in a
Manhattan apartment (the tasteful set of Aaron Francis and the
authentic costumes of Dana Peterson) shared by Queenie and Burrs (the
wonderful Valarie Pettiford and Eric Anderson), a vaudeville dancer
and vaudeville clown. In a relationship marked by vicious behavior
and recklessness (mirroring the time in which they lived), they
decide to throw a party to end all parties.

As the guests arrive, we meet a colorful assortment of people living
on the edge: the debonair and wasted Jackie (Sam Zeller); ex-
prizefighter Eddie (James Black) and his stripper girlfriend, Mae
(Julie Dixon Jackson); the dancing/singing D'Armano Brothers (Nathan
Lee Graham and Daren A. Herbert); aging wise actress Dolores (Sally
Kellerman of "MASH" fame); lesbian Miss Madalaine True (Kirsten
Benton Chandler) and her semiconscious lover, Sally (Daisy Egan); 14-
year-old Nadine (Sasha Wexler), the younger sister of Mae; and
wannabe producers Gold and Goldberg (Peter Van Norden and Michael
Kostroff). The cast is uniformly stellar.

Within this array of characters is the story of Queenie and abusive,
Pagliacci-like Burrs, and the anything-for-kicks Kate (the first-rate
Jane Lanier, who also serves as choreographer) and her boy-toy gigolo
boyfriend, Black (the able and handsome Innis Casey). When Queenie
and Black hit it off, Burrs jealously erupts, and violence ensues.
The end of the orgy. As daylight breaks, Queenie moves out into a
brighter world -- but not necessarily a brighter future.

As in opera, the invited revelers who make up the ensemble bring the
formerly gloomy apartment alive with their delirious bursts of sexual
tension and nervous exuberance that work well with Lanier's creative
choreography. Some of the songs are quite good: "Like Sally," sung by
Madalaine; "Uptown," sung by the Brothers D'Armano and Burrs; "Best
Friend," sung by Queenie and Kate; "After Midnight Dies," sung by
Sally; and the touching "People Like Us," sung by Black and Queenie.
Credit David O for the musical direction.

Cast: Queenie: Valarie Pettiford; Burrs: Eric Anderson; Jackie: Sam
Zeller; Miss Madalaine True: Kirsten Benton Chandler; Sally: Daisy
Egan; Eddie Mackrel: James Black; Mae: Julie Dixon Jackson; Nadine:
Sasha Wexler; Phil D'Armano: Nathan Lee Graham; Oscar D'Armano: Daren
A. Herbert; Dolores Montoya: Sally Kellerman; Gold: Peter Van Norden;
Goldberg: Michael Kostroff; Black: Innis Casey; Kate: Jane Lanier.

Music/lyrics: Michael John LaChiusa; Book: Michael John LaChiusa and
George C. Wolfe; Based on the poem by Joseph Moncure Marsh; Director:
Daniel Henning; Choreographer: Jane Lanier; Musical director: David
O; Set designer: Aaron Francis; Costume designer: Dana Peterson;
Lighting designer: Steven Young.