Captain Squishy’s Yee Haw Jamboree!

captsquishy

Josh rates it:

Finally, proof that a Fringe musical can be genuinely good. Not just a show I can find the good in, but one that is good from start to finish. And all this from a show with the title Captain Squishy’s Yee Haw Jamboree? Well, slap my head and call me silly. I’ll be darned.

From the people who brought you last year’s breakout hit, I Like Nuts (the Musical), this is the story of country jamboree TV show, staring the aforementioned Captain (played by Joe Cronin) and his gang of zany, redneck pals. We follow them in their escapades, onstage and off, as sketches are unraveled, songs are sung, and cupcakes are poisoned. The cast was good across the board, with a few particularly funny moments from the TV show’s newcomer, Susie Smalltown (Christa Wroblewski) and from Guy Texas, the World War I German spy (Nick Greek). The music (by Jason Wilson, Nicholas Werner and Chris Davenport) was surprisingly well written, both melodically and lyrically. My favorite moments were the touching musical tribute to bacon, and a duet between Susie and the show’s star Daisy (Julia Stemper) called “my boyfriend Chad”.

The plot sort of falls by the wayside near the end, but I think intentionally so. If you’re the kind of person whose feelings about a play are in any way tied to sense-making, then this may not be for you. But if you’re the kind of person who likes to laugh, even if the jokes often appeal to the lowest common denominator, then I think you’ll have fun. I saw a later evening performance, and it was just the kind of show I was in the mood for after a drink or two at Baldacchino Gypsy Tent Bar. The show was more than sold out (so get your tickets now) and we were rowdy and ready to be entertained, and the Captain Squishy team delivered in spades.

So, if you are looking for a night full of one fingered banjo players, moonshine monkeys, half identical twins, and laugh-out-loud fun, then you’re going to love this show.

Captain Squishy’s Yee Haw Jamboree