Bright as a pack of Skittles, loopy as a Looney Tunes cartoon, and jam-packed with sibling rivalry, metaphysical angst and a tragically misunderstood, fire-breathing, homicidal purple platypus. 
With some clever retro animation, we follow the video hero Claudio as he morphs into a man (Stephen Gregory Smith) and continues to leap over enemies and open trenches, stomp on man-eating plants, send his evil nemesis hurtling into a river of lava, and save Princess Tangerine (Gia Mora). While lauded by the King Eggplant (Harry A. Winter) and his eggplant entourage — a fine, fine bunch of Munchkins — for retrieving the princess, Claudio is in a Groundhog Day funk, sensing an unsettling pattern to his existence and ruminating about free will.
Claudio’s brother and second banana, Luis (Sam Ludwig) as Player Number 2, longs to hang up his magic backpack, hand over the reins to their dragon companion, and stand in the hero’s limelight, yet he’s conflicted about his ambivalent feelings towards his brother. His Tommy Smothers moment is short-lived when coffee-grinder kick ass Player #3 wannabe (feisty Princess Fish played by Lauren Williams) bursts into the game with a Latin flair and some extra facial hair. The Bros. are no match for Ms. Williams’ spunk and determination to break out of her boring Princess #2 routine.
Other characters have hidden depths as well. The warmongering, Princess-nabbing platypus Bruiser (scene-stealer Matthew Anderson channeling Meatloaf) searches for personal insight in probing sessions with Freudian analyst Elgathor (Winter): I just want a coffee date, but every time I go to ask her out, I end up kidnapping Princess Tangerine again.
Bruiser and Tangerine share two of the wackiest songs in the show, “Poor Poor Me” and “The Platypus Song,” and have the audience wondering where that relationship will go. He’s really all, um, …heart – and a platypus is a mammal, he’s adamant to point out.
And watch out for the rambunctious Boof (Chris Sizemore) — attention must be paid or even a mild-mannered eggplant might get broiling mad.
Fornarola and Pailet have a great Fringe show with a solid score, loads of wry humor and a remarkable cast. Some of the humor can be a bit PG13, but as with Looney Tunes, kids and adults take in a scene on completely different levels.
Super Claudio Bros., All New Video Game Musical
by Drew Fornarola and Marshall Pailet
directed by Marshall Pailet
music directed by Drew Fornarola
choreographed by Karissa Swanigan
produced by Charlie Fink
reviewed by Gary McMillan
Read all the reviews and check out the full Capital Fringe schedule here.
Did you see the show? What did you think?
I loved this show! Very fun, tongue in cheek and moments of real character stakes.
It’s a musical for people that don’t like musicals.
This is the funniest show I have ever seen. Go see it.
Super Claudio is a “Super Show.” It’s one of the best shows at the Washington Fringe. The music and the book are outstanding. I agree with Jane above that the show, for me, had an Avenue Q feeling, but I enjoyed this more than Avenue Q. The cast is excellent – really a top drawer show. I can’t see how DC Theatre Scene gave it a 4 this show deserves a 5+. The Costumes are great and colorful. The projections need a little work. but iIf you can only see one show at the Fringe make it Super Claudio Bros.
This was a really great, really fun show. The script and cast were so great… but I actually think most of the songs in the show need a little work. The power-ballads were great, but the up-tempos could be simplified a little: fewer words, cleaner harmonies, more memorable melodies. The style of the music throughout the show was perfect, and pretty much everything is great. I especially loved the marketing – giving out mustaches? Brilliant. I would definitely love to work with any member of this team- they know what they’re doing and do it well!
Super Claudio Bros is the best show I’ve ever seen at the Fringe! It has a great story, memorable & funny songs, incredible talent, witty costumes and a good heart (not just the purple platypus kind, either). It is a real musical, with attitude and wit that reminds me of Avenue Q. Although I am not of the video game generation (the last game I played was in a bar, cost a dime and was called “Pac-man”), the play absolutely entertained me and the story and characters stand alone. Go see it!