Earth Sucks
When making the rounds on a weekend evening around Hollywood, you can take a short drive south from the other-worldly creatures inhabiting the Hollywood/Vine area to the Art/Works Theatre on Santa Monica where you will encounter other-worldly creatures of a vastly different sort parading about in “Earth Sucks,” a musical by Jonas Oppenheim. The creatures at this venue are “Citizens of Earth,” an intergalactic rock band escaping their home planet where their music has been stifled by the overwhelming presence of Ulinia Swords (Nakia Syvonne), an Eartha Kitt/Tina Turner-type songstress and temptress who has fashioned a song so catchy that it is impossible to get out of your head, and which she intends to use to conquer the universe.
These space travelers are joined in their journey by a collection of provincial Houston residents who despite having their feet firmly planted on the ground, are every bit as disconnected from the world as the aliens they befriend. What results is a wacky ride replete with valley girls, sock puppets, Elvis haircuts, keyboard bong hits, and surprisingly, some damn good—even touching—music.
Echo Bell (Emily Stern) is the focal point of the story, a disaffected and already world-weary teen who implores the heavens to send her love…or at least a lover who doesn’t call her “dude”…and who is carbon-based!! The heavens respond by sending her Fluhbluhbluh, a jester-looking alien with a sock puppet alter-ego who fronts “Citizens of Earth,” and who leads the cast in most number of bizarre body movements.
Fluhbluhbluh’s appearance provides a foil for Swayze (Rawn Erickson II), Echo’s vacant and hairstyle-challenged boyfriend who pulls his share of laughs with his empty pronouncements and dumbfounded looks. His angst-ridden rendition of “Pain,” is a hilarious reminiscence of Dana Carvey’s “Broccoli” bit, and sets up the audience for the tongue-in-cheek song lyrics that somehow find the bullseye with their jaundiced reflections on current times.
Echo’s father Max (Christopher Fairbanks) is a NASA worker whose devotion to the job has robbed him of a close relationship with his daughter, and has contributed, we surmise, to his wife leaving him as well. Fairbanks’ performance was the show’s highlight for me. A careful balance of a brooding, sympathetic figure and a wry optimist, Max deadpans some of the shows best lines, and has a surprisingly delicate voice which he reveals in two of the shows most beautiful tunes: “Max’s Lament” and a duet with Echo, “Please Send Help.” Max has clearly drawn on the lessons he learned so many years ago at “Xylon13stock.”
“Earth Sucks” is a journey through the galaxy that I highly advise everyone jump on board for. It’s one of those special shows where the actors all seem to be having a good time, contributing greatly to the show’s energy. The actors are fine singers, and little surprises abound….like who knew Scott Palmason, in a dual role, would unveil the strongest voice of the night??
“Earth Sucks” is showing October 4th thru November 2nd on Fridays and Saturdays with Sunday matinees at Art/Works Theatre at 6569 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038. Get tickets by calling (323) 960-7744 or going to www.earthsucksmusical.com.