“World Premiere Musicals” at 99 seat theaters are always an iffy thing.  One
attends with a healthy dose of skepticism. After all, it takes years (and the
contributions of many many talented show people) to bring a show to
Broadway.  Mental: The Musical, currently having its world premiere at the
Edgemar Center for the Arts, is not quite ready for Broadway, but it is a first
rate show, an often riotously funny musical…with substance.

Mental: The Musical follows the Clutterbuck family (Dad Harry, Mom Eloise,
and siblings Sport, Jared, Mona, and Violet) through a weekend of family
therapy somewhere in Arizona.  Led by recovering (from at least a dozen
mental ailments) therapist Dr. Gary Pointer, the weekend sessions are visited
by almost daughter Siobban (who happens to be black) and Violet’s
boyfriend Dean (who happens to be blond, as in “dumb blond”).

With book, music, and lyrics by Fiona Hogan and Courtney Kramer, and
skillfully directed by Michelle Danner, Mental: The Musical is one of the
funniest shows I’ve seen, its humor coming from the family’s many quirks, but
it’s also one of the most touching, its poignancy coming from the very real
problems which have led them to therapy.

Kramer proves herself a sextuple threat as beautiful but lost daughter Violet.
She not only co-wrote the book, music, and lyrics, but she can sing, dance,
and act (and she’s movie star gorgeous as well). Portraying her troubled
sister Mona is rich-voiced Miranda Frigon, in a very moving performance. TV
star Rob Estes is very good as self centered businessman son Jared, and John
Bobek is electric as overlooked son Sport. Lanky Bobek, with his powerful rock
tenor, would make a great Roger or Mark in Rent, and there aren’t many
who could do justice to both roles.  And the parents, Harry and Eloise, are
brought richly to life by Robert Smith and June B. Wilde.

Visiting the family is show-stopper Christan Omari as Siobban (the one who’s
almost family).  Her Kiss My Ass is “kick ass” and her Groove Child is very groovy
indeed.  And any show which features Mens Fitness ready Adam Simmons in
nothing but tighty-whities and angel wings is worth buying a ticket for in my
book.  The fact that Simmons can sing as gorgeously as he looks, and has the
dumb model act down pat, is icing on the cake.

Finally, in one of the most outrageously brilliant performances I’ve seen this
season, is Jeff Sumner, as therapist Pointer.  It’s very affirming to see a gay
character played with so many dimensions.  Sumner could probably get
laughs just reading the phone book, but in Mental: The Musical he gets to
end Act 1 solo center stage singing the most thrilling anthem since the
Jennifers (Holliday and Hudson) belted out And I Am Telling You I’m Not
Going. Sumner’s showstopper is called No More Dairy and his pulling out all
the stops rendition is the kind of performance that wins awards.

Hogan and Kramer’s songs are melodic, often performed in 3, 4, and 8+ part
harmony. Kudos to musical directors Scott Connor, Kramer, and Hogan and
to choreographer Ray Leeper. (The brothers and Dean dancing backup to
Omari’s Groove Thing is something that must be seen.)

Mental: The Musical is nearing the end of its nearly three month run at the
Edgemar. I’m sorry I waited so long to see it, because normally I’d be back
and back again, but my August is just too booked, and it closes on the 19th.
But for those who are free either of the upcoming two weekends, this is a
show that comes with my highest recommendation.
Runs through August 19, 2007 at the Edgemar Center for the Arts, 2437 Main
St., Santa Monica; Tickets $28  Reservations:  310.392.7327.


--Steven Stanley