I have Never Been So Happy

A Center Theater Group presentation of the musical in 2 functions with book and lyrics by Kirk Lynn, music and lyrics by Peter Stopschinski and produced by Rude Mechs. Directed by Thomas Graves and Lana Lesley. Choreography, Dayna Hanson. Sets, Leilah Stewart costumes, Laura Cannon lighting, John H. Scott animation, Miwa Matreyek music direction and seem, Stopschinski. Opened up, examined March. 8, 2011. Runs through March. 23. Running time: 2 Hrs, 10 MIN. Musical Amounts: "Annabellee's Dream," "Prelude," "A Dog's Existence," "Magical Knot," "Everything's Tied," "Ropebreak Ballet," "Electric Signals," "Oh Shit," "Opera & Crying," "I have Never Been So Happy," "She Likes Fur," "Hoo Doo," "Prelude to do something II," "Electric Signals Redux," "We Search the Lion," "Western Method of Livin'," "Have No Idea Sing," "Western Way Redux," "A Few Things I Loved About This Dog," "I have Never Been So Happy."Annabellee - Meg Sullivan Jeremy - E. Jason Liebrecht Brutus - Lowell Bartholomee Julie - Cami Alys Sigfried - Paul Soileau Sigmunda - Jenny Larson Sheriff - Kerri Atwood With: Liz Cass, Noel Gaulin, Thomas Graves, Hannah Kenah, Lana Lesley, Michael Mergen, Erin Meyer, Eric Roach, Peter Stopschinski.Rude Mechs executes a postmodern deconstruction around the tuner form in "I have Never Been So Happy," a sentiment unlikely to become shared by many people patrons departing the Kirk Douglas Theater. The Mechs are shooting for any Fringe Festish/"Urinetown" undertake the West's true character, but rather than specific witty satire they provide a titanically irrelevant story, stale Brechtian signs and meandering tunes. Librettist Kirk Lynn can not be bothered to setup why the thuggish Brutus (Lowell Bartholomee), improbable host of some kind of Nashville-style TV variety series, will not let daughter Annabellee (Meg Sullivan) away from home, nor why the C&W diva does not just bolt if, as she sings, she's so restless. (She's much more pitchy than she's restless.) Prime stage time is dedicated to a dachshund desert race - yup, you heerd right, podner - before we change to some "wymyn's commune" that Julie (Cami Alys) must exile boy Jeremy (E. Jason Liebrecht) your day he turns into a guy. She achieves this by tying him by rope to Texas' last mountain lion, delivering fella and feline on the journey to enlightenment. Julie wails "basically were a full" she'd have Jeremy remain together with her forever, before the song's over she's boasting she behaved for their own good. She keeps explaining her decision in speech and song, by the 5th attempt you might wish you'd introduced along some measures of rope of your to wipe some smirks from the put together faces. Eventually the theme is typed in block letters: Free Airline must try to accommodate designers from the land as well as the spirit humans and monsters tradition and progress males and wymyn alike. It is a QED notion very little triggered within the DOA narrative, by which little is ever on the line. The buttonless amounts stimulate anything western compared to emo ballads an Austin coffee shop might commission on Open Mike Evening. Composer Peter Stopschinski summons up a unique act two instrumental prelude, along with a stirring drum break carried out through the communards (if Darth Vader's Dying Star located a lesbian collective, this is exactly what they'd seem like). The lion will get an interesting "I'm Able To Has Cheezburger"-style ditty, and dachshunds Jenny Larson and Paul Soileau fire up some chuckles, though their change to German accents for any joke-telling session obliterates the humor. However, entertainment-dampening may be the Mechs' clearly-intended strategy throughout. You are feeling it might in some way be beneath these to indulge a crowd with enjoyable tunes, truly felt feelings and figures apart from crude stereotypes (Bartholomee's dull heavy Kerri Atwood's butchily obnoxious sheriff). Dayna Hanson's choreography includes line dancing moves combined with deliberate arm gestures from the Macarena. For preshow and also the half-hour "shindig" intermission, the Douglas lobby continues to be decorated in the way of the budget-challenged high school's junior promenade having a "Dying Valley Days" theme. In the Drink & Stink Saloon the poultry chili is very tasty, better put within the cornbread compared to Fritos. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com