“Forbidden B’way”/You-Review-It

So what did you do this weekend? Hear the Earth Harp at the IMA or the slew of country stars at the Fairgrounds? Discover “Black Gold” at the Phoenix?

My weekend included the national tour of “Forbidden Broadway” at Clowes Hall, which proved both entertaining and a bit baffling. At its best (particularly in the “Les Mis” section) the laughs were big and the teeth sharp. The FB folks know New York theater inside and out and skewer it in ways that go way below the surface.

My bafflement came from wondering who thought anyone would enjoy a lengthy sketch taking shots at the barely remembered show “Lennon,” which only played for one month in 2005. Probably the same person who thought to stage this four-performer revue with only two stand-up microphones. And maybe that’s the same person who put images from “Wicked” on the poster without having a single reference in the show itself.

IBJ reader Doug Lippert e-mailed me on the latter note, saying “I am always frustrated when a production is not as promised.  In the case of ‘Forbidden Broadway,’ I was specifically looking forward to the spoof of ‘Wicked,’ one of my favorite musicals.  Promotional material, as I recall, specifically mentioned ‘Wicked’ as one of the shows at which the cast would take some pot shots.  But, it never happened and its absence might explain the weak second act.”

Feel free to chime in with your thoughts on “Forbidden Broadway” or whatever you saw, heard or otherwise experienced this weekend.