BWW Reviews: Ruskin Group Theatre Taps Original Collaborators for the Hilarious EL GRANDE DE COCA-COLA
By: Shari Barrett Aug. 03, 2013
It's a rare thing to be able to see a writer perform his own work onstage, especially in a role he created. Those of you lucky enough to see EL GRANDE DE COCA-COLA at the Ruskin Group Theatre are in for quite a treat as Ron House, writer of this hilarious and campy send-up of variety shows, performs the lead role of Senor Don Pepe Hernandez.
EL GRANDE DE COCA-COLA is an extravaganza of timeless humor, in five languages you never knew you could speak. And trust me, even though most of this musical is performed in Spanish (more like Spanglish, really), it won't matter a bit given the brilliance of each member of the cast to act out what is being said. You will laugh yourself silly just as I did through the entire 70 minute show.
Set in the nightclub of a small backwater town, somewhere South of the Border, Pepe Hernandez aka Señor Show Business (Ron House) has boasted in the local press that he is bringing a group of famous international cabaret stars to town. He has persuaded his uncle, manager of the local Coca-Cola bottling plant, to advance him enough money to rent the club for three nights. It is showtime for Pepe's ambitious extravaganza, "Parada de las Estrellas" (Parade of the Stars). But none of the famous stars show up, so what's a guy to do? Hire his family to perform all the international numbers in the show! House commands the stage as host of the variety show so comically bad that he will keep you laughing hysterically from start to finish.
EL GRANDE DE COCA-COLA begins as Pepe's daughter Consuelo Hernandez (the lovely and limber-limbed Lila Dupree) improvs her way through the audience, warming up the crowd with her slightly off-color gags, then inviting members of the audience into her dressing room after the show. Dupree is a marvel in every number from her overt sexuality in "La Bamba" to her comical "Dos Chicas" battle with her award sash..
The last time I saw Nina Brissey, she originated the show-stopping sex kitten role of Chastity in the Ruskin's world premiere of "Paradise-A Dive Bluegrass Musical Comedy." Now she treats us to Pepe's other daughter, Maria Hernandez, who seems to be the least interested of the family members in doing the show. But roll with it she does, especially as Madame Maria the Supernaturalist, the other "Dos Chicas" bombshell, and even playing drums for some of the men's numbers.
And now the two fabulous men who round out the cast: David Lago plays Miguel Vasquez and Aaron Miller plays Juan Rodriguez. We first meet them as the musicians on piano and drums, and let me tell you, these two play music like nothing you have even seen, with SEEN being the key word. Miller's rubbery face and amazing pratfalls along with Lago's machismo are highlighted in many of the number, most notably their "German" number in which they don blonde wigs, sparkly lederhosen, and perform the outrageous Berliner Bugaloo during which Michael Jackson, James Brown and other famous soul singers are mimicked to riotous effect, using any German word Americans would recognize. But my favorite bit has to be Giovanni and Giuseppe, the two Italian Gigolos, complete with white suits and bare midriffs.
Kudos to all for such an entertaining and unexpected joy of a show, no matter what language is being spoken however badly. And to Sarah Figoten Wilson, thanks for all the outrageous costumes, each one more glorious than the last in its over-the-top celebration of a musical variety show taken a few steps too far!
EL GRANDE DE COCA-COLA performances continue on Fridays-Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm through August 31, 2013 at Ruskin Group Theatre, located at 3000 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Tickets are $25 ($20 for students, seniors, and guild members) and can be purchased in advance by calling (310) 397-3244. For more information please visit www.ruskingrouptheatre.com. Free parking is available at the theater.
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