Terrorism, Fearmongering, and America's Reality-Television Fixation Meet in BLATANTLY BLAINE

By: Oct. 09, 2016
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As an audience member, you expect some vulgarity from a show billed as "Kim Kardashian and Book of Mormon's ISIS musical baby." Blatantly Blaine meets your expectations, and then smashes them.

This new musical recently opened at the People's Improv Theatre, and has no qualms about tackling hot-button issues like terrorism, fearmongering, America's reality-television fixation, and America's first family (that isn't the Obamas).

The story opens on a Kardashian-esque family at the peak of their fame, king of the mid-2000's reality TV scene. After a mysterious feud causes the family to walk away from the show, producer Trevor Beach is ruined. Ten years later, he's still furious with the Blaines, and wants to find out when they all left him high and dry. Upon flipping through cable news, and seeing the fiery, terror-inducing rhetoric of right-wing pundits, he's inspired to cook up a scheme to use some terror in order to learn why the Blaines split up so many years ago.

With the help of a hapless sidekick, the producer gathers the family for a "one-night only" reunion special. Once they're present, he simulates an attack by the terrorist organization ISIS, using cheap sound effects and bad costumes, which prove to work even better than he could have hoped. Between a mute half-brother, a reformed druggie turned sister-wife, and a testosterone-filled father with a fixation on killing endangered animals, Trevor Beach soon finds himself in over his head trying to deal with the characters that are the Blaines - and when the truth finally does come out, it's just as shocking as the premise.

While the Kardashians are more of an influence than a direct inspiration for the events of the story, the show manages to wonderfully balance the act of parodying while creating a new distinct world that any audience member can become immersed in, regardless of their love for or knowledge of Kim & Co.

This is probably due to the fact that the composer and co-lyricist is a Kardashian devotee, while the bookwriter has never seen a single episode. Amanda D'Archangelis and Anderson Cook (music, and book, respectively, with lyrics co-written) first found success at the PIT last year with their musical The Disembodied Hand That Fisted Everyone to Death - the Musical! After a short run in the small Bad Theatre Festival, The Disembodied Hand... blew up, running for nine months at the PIT with three extensions, at the Reckless Theatre in NYC this fall, and at the Boston Conservatory (D'Archangelis' alma mater) in October.

Blatantly Blaine feels like a natural evolution for Cook & D'Archangelis, who continue on their style of smart, sharp commentary hidden in the subtext of bawdy, raucous comedy. Blatantly Blaine manages to shock and appall left and right, but plenty of shows are capable of gross-out comedy. This show succeeds in the heart and smarts it brings to the Kardashians. This isn't a lazy parody populated with easy references to the show - it makes us take a step back and really think about why America needs reality television, and the increasingly thin line between our entertainment and our politics. If you'd like a tight ninety minutes of non-stop laughter, with plenty to leave you thinking about upon leaving the theatre, with a side of mild nudity, Blatantly Blaine is for you.

Performance Schedule
October 6 through November 12.
Friday - Monday.
Times vary by night 8:00 PM, 9:30 PM, or 11:00 PM.
Admission is $18. Pre-order is encouraged as space is limited.
Tickets can be purchased online HERE or at the door.

Location
The People's Improv Theater
123 E. 24th Street, New York NY 10010 - Park Ave. & 24th Street

For more information about Blatantly Blaine please visit www.blatantlyblaine.com.
Or follow them on Facebook. It's what the Blaine's would do.



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