Review Roundup: TRIASSIC PARQ

TRIASSIC PARQ The Musical, 2010's Best Musical winner at FringeNYC, opened last night, June 27th for a limited Off-Broadway engagement through August 5th. Written by Marshall Pailet, Bryce Norbitz and Steve Wargo, TRIASSIC PARQ is directed by Mr. Pailet, with choreography by Kyle Mullins and musical direction by Zak Sandler. The cast of TRIASSIC PARQ features Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Brandon Espinoza, Wade McCollum, Claire Neumann, Lee Seymour, Shelley Thomas, and Alex Wyse.

TRIASSIC PARQ is an unflinching musical meditation on science, faith and love. Like all great tales laden with import, it is narrated by Morgan Freeman. Tickets are $39.50 - $59.50 and are available by calling 212-352-3101 or through www.TriassicParq.com.

Let's see what the critics had to say...

Jennifer Farrar, Associated Press: This is no sweet Dinotopia, so don't bring the young kids. Even though the phalluses and blood are artfully made of fabric, there are many sexual references and curses that would be confusing for them. For savvy teenagers and adults, though, this is one of the funniest psuedo-docudramas you'll ever see, if you can hear it over the howls of laughter from the audience.

Elisaeth Vincentelli, NY Post: While anthropomorphization is the name of the game in this kind of project, the dinos still have to behave somewhat in character - they know that even in "Ice Age." Raptors are mean predators, not sweet oafs who sing, "It's a beautiful day to be a woman/It's a beautiful day/To hug the things I love." It's enough to make you reconsider the theory of evolution.

David Sheward, Backstage: If you want the theatrical equivalent of a quick bite, "Triassic Parq" is as nutritious and forgettable as a bag of chips. A hit at last year's New York International Fringe Festival and running a swift 80 minutes, this mini-musical has a sorta-funny premise, a whip-smart cast, frenetic staging, and an acidic sense of humor. But it will vanish from your mind the minute you hit the pavement outside the SoHo Playhouse.