BWW Reviews: Seattle Rep's LIZARD BOY Has Come to Save Us!

It's always exciting when the new bit of awesomeness to hit the theater scene comes to Seattle first. Such is the case with the brand new musical "Lizard Boy" written, composed and starring the uber-talented Justin Huertas currently playing at the Seattle Rep. This 90 minute journey of love, acceptance and scales embodies so much promise, potential and genuine love of storytelling that I can easily see this going far beyond Seattle. So you'll want to catch it now for some theater nerd bragging rights.

Huertas' show is fairly impossible to classify. It's an indie-rock, superhero, gay coming of age, romantic comedy I guess. But what it boils down to is a completely fresh and original show as we meet Trevor (Huertas), a young songwriter who just doesn't feel like he fits in anywhere. But then it's hard to blend in with the crowd when you're covered in reptile scales due to a childhood accident that kind of made you a little famous. But today is Monsterfest, an annual celebration of the incident that caused his situation where people go out dressed up like monsters, so Trevor has a chance to get out of his apartment and try to make a friend without people gawking. And where else does a young gay man look for friends but on Grinder of course. So Trevor makes a date with Cary (William A. Williams) an adorably dorky guy, new to the city and just looking for some friends as well. The two hit it off (eventually) and head out to catch a new singer, Siren (Kirsten deLohr Helland), at a club. But Trevor soon realizes that Siren is the woman who he's repeatedly seen in his dreams and who may have more in common with him than he thinks.

Huertas' charming and witty story combined with the level of musical prowess he and Williams and deLohr Helland exhibit plus some wonderfully inventive staging from director Brandon Ivie create a perfect storm of musical theater. Plus the characters are so engaging that you cannot help but be drawn in. And if you're a musical theater nerd who also happens to be a superhero/comic nerd like myself then all the better as Trevor's predilection toward heroes and his own heroic journey is sure to satisfy your nerd fix at least until the next Avengers movie comes out. Finally we have a musical about superheroes that manages to tell a coherent story and doesn't embarrass itself (I'm looking at you Spiderman).

And did I mention how sickeningly talented the cast is? I did? Well I'm going to do it again! Not only do the three of them completely create a rich and vibrant story with their characters and sing beautifully but THEY'RE ALSO THE BAND! The three of them weave in and out between various instruments (including children's toy instruments) brilliantly and never let the instruments get in the way of the story. On the contrary, often times they incorporate those instruments into it. In fact there's an entire battle sequence using them. No, really.

This is just one of those can't miss shows, Dear Readers. And so I am overjoyed to give it a somewhat scaly WOW with my three letter rating system (my highest rating). Don't walk, run (or fly) to get your tickets before this one disappears, or shape shifts, or ... well you get the idea.

"Lizard Boy" performs at the Seattle Rep through April 26th. For tickets or information contact the Seattle Rep box office at 206-443-2222 or visit them online at www.seattlerep.org. And be sure to check out their $5 front row tickets to each performance available one hour before the performance (in person and cash only).

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