BWW Reviews: THAT BACHELORETTE SHOW is as Bubbly and Light as Champagne

By: May. 01, 2015
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The Cast of THAT BACHELORETTE SHOW.

Yes, interactive Off-Broadway shows are a thing, and they can be really entertaining. The latest offering in the genre is THAT BACHLORETTE SHOW, which is a flirtatiously fun 90 minute dance party from the creator of THE AWESOME 80S PROM. More party than theatre, this frivolous concoction packs in the laughs and keeps the beats coming. You'll have a blast dancing the night away with Adrianna Orlando and her stable of aspiring beaus.

Due to the interactive elements of THAT BACHLEORETTE SHOW, there is no way you'll ever see the same performance twice. That's where a thin plot, some clichéd archetypes, and keen improvisational skills come into play to make sure that Ken Davenport's creation keeps the audience smiling. In the show, plucky bachelorette Adriana Orlando, played with perfected comical bridge-and-tunnel sass by Joanne Nosuchinsky, is looking for love. She just left her greasy, Italian Guido boyfriend, Giovanni Giovanni because he wouldn't propose to her. Gianmarco Soresi plays this slime-ball with ample sleaze. So, what's a girl to do? She turns to New York City's favorite dating show to find her husband.

The show's rakish, libidinous host Malcolm Love, played with gusto by Andy Peeke, guarantees Adriana that he and the audience will help her find her husband. Enter her best friends and future bride's maids. Bennett Leak's Tristan Di Stefano, clad in an audacious pink zebra print vest, is armed with an array of obviously gay traits and a ton of attitude. Meagan Robar's Ricki Ronzoni would be perfectly at home on MTV's Jersey Shore as she parties with the audience, flirts with the guys, spends the evening swiping left and right on Tinder, and sending Snapchats.

Bennett Leak, Joanne Nosuchinsky
and Meagan Robar.

The games begin once Adrianna is introduced to her cadre of stallions. There's Russell Daniels as Brian Burtleman, an "average Joe" who thought he had gone to ComicCon. Dr. Lencho, played by Pedro de Leon, is a lusty Latino heart surgeon. James Royce Edwards serves up bad boy in guyliner as British rockstar Nicky Fangs. Smooth talking, coke snorting Wall Street moneybags Tripp Swift is brought to life by Alex Fast. Douglas Goodhart's Prince Al Zaheed is a loving, albeit a touch racist, caricature of men from the Middle East. I must admit, the night I saw the show, the audience seemed to really love busting out some Bollywood inspired Bhangra hands and dancing with him while wearing his turban. Zeke Double Moon Turtle, the spacey surfer who shares edible narcotics and seashells with the audience, is played with infectious charisma by BJ Gruber. Kelsey J. Nash's gentlemanly Lt. Col. Tyler Peck is full of southern charm. Judder Jones, a Midwestern farmer, is hysterically played by Lukas Poost, who does an impeccable job looking completely out of place in the chic club venue. However, as lady suitor Mack Jenkins, Gavyn Pickens is a raucous force to be reckoned with. Her perfectly tailored blend of humor and realism allows her to create an alluring character that the audience simply cannot get enough of.

With the plot devices put into place, the band of bachelors interact with the audience on the dancefloor and perform bits with one another in hopes of earning our votes. Those bachelors with the most votes advance through the rounds, and eventually a winner is crowned. At a series of eliminations Adriana coyly asks those who advance if they will take her flower, and it is just this kind of tongue-in-cheek comedy that pervades the whole show. If you're just looking for a night out on the town that is as light and bubbly as a flute of champagne, you need not look any further than THAT BACHLEORETTE SHOW.

The Cast of THAT BACHELORETTE SHOW.

The creative members of the team all pull their weight. Jessica West Regan's choreographed moments are ebullient and lighthearted. They are fun to watch and take-in, and because of the nature of the show, the audience often finds themselves either surrounded by these moments or just a few inches from the dancing. Jamie Roderick's lighting design takes cues from clubs and gameshows to present a dizzying array of exciting color. Travis Chinick's costume designs convey character with precision. Even if the cast was struck mute, we would instantly know who each character was. Lastly, the pulsating music from critically acclaimed current guest DJs AndrewAndrew kept the audience happily on their feet and feeling great.

THAT BACHELORETTE SHOW runs every Saturday at 8:00 pm at 42 West (514 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues). Tickets are currently on sale through December 26, 2015. For tickets and more information, please visit http://thatbacheloretteshow.com or call (212) 257-0365. Naturally, this is the perfect show for Bachelorette parties, so groups of 10 or more are asked to call (855) NYC-BACH or visit http://thatbacheloretteshow.com/bachelorette-parties.


Andy Peeke. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.


Bennett Leak, Joanne Nosuchinsky and Meagan Robar.


The Cast of THAT BACHELORETTE SHOW.


James Royce Edwards with an audience member.


Kelsey J. Nash with an audience member.


Megan Robar and BJ Gruber.


The Cast of THAT BACHELORETTE SHOW.


The Cast of THAT BACHELORETTE SHOW.


The Cast of THAT BACHELORETTE SHOW.


DJs AndrewAndrew.



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