‘Ride the Cyclone’ a Must See at the Alliance Theatre

“Ride the Cyclone,” now in its final week at the Alliance Theatre, is one heck of a ride and a must-see musical. This carnival is not for the kiddies, but it will make your heart sing and laugh.

In the vein of a modern, risqué “Spoon River Anthology,” you’ll meet a deceased cast of characters who died riding the cyclone. Just one of them will be able to return to life.

The arcade fortune-teller machine, which appears to be from the early 1900s, holds a male potentate, The Amazing Karnak (Karl Hamilton) who tells the story of the Canadian high school chamber choir who died riding the cyclone. He gives the deceased characters a chance to come back to life by telling a story of their lives.

Ricky (Scott Redmond), who can only walk on crutches becomes a star-like rapper, garbed in purple and reminiscent of Prince. Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg (Tiffany Tatreau), the smartest girl in the class, exclaims her virtues above the others. Her best friend, Constance (Lillian Castillo), tells of her sexual escapades just before stepping onto the cyclone. The most memorable character, Noel (Kholby Wardell), the homosexual who dances like a Bob Fosse cabaret star and sings of his dream of being, “That F*cked Up Girl.”

It’s the final week of the show and one not to be missed. Fantastic acting by Castillo, Tatreau and Wardell.  Book, music and lyrics by Jacob Richamond and Brooke Maxwell, directed by Leora Morris, “Ride the Cyclone” runs through May 26 at the Alliance Theatre.

If you’re ready to ride the cyclone at a carnival, Get ready for the ride of your life. At this carnival, “Ride the Cyclone” is no kiddie ride.

In the vein of a modern, risqué musical “Spoon River Anthology,” you’ll meet a deceased cast of characters who died riding the cyclone, but just one of them will be able to return to life.

The man in the arcade fortune teller machine, appearing to be from the early 1900s, acting as the potentate, forewarns the cast of characters that they are going to die as will he soon thereafter. But each character has the chance to tell a story of their lives, the way it was or should have been.

There’s the cripple, Ricky (Scott Redmond) who becomes a star-like rapper, bringing Prince back to life; the smartest girl in the class, Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg (Tiffany Tatreau) who thinks only of herself and has a voice of gold, and the most memorable character, Noel (Kholby Wardell), who dances like a Bob Fosse cabaret star and dreams of being “that f*d-up girl.” The singing and performances are great. My guest and I both loved this show.

It’s the final week of the show and one not to be missed.  Book, musc and lyrics by Jacob Richamond and Brooke Maxwell, directed by Leora Morris, “Ride the Cyclone” runs through May 26 at the Alliance Theatre.