Review: 'Ruthless - The Musical' at Toronto Centre for the Arts

A mother with the vague disposition of a June Cleaver, a daughter who will kill to get a role in the school play, an agent with the maniacal fervor of Madame Rose and a theatre critic who hates musicals. These are the people that populate Ruthless, a hilarious musical comedy by Marvin Laird and Joal Paley. It’s the first show of the season by Encore Entertainment and to use Broadway slang, it’s a smash!

The production as deftly staged by Merle Garbe doesn’t lag for a second in its madcap tale of 8-year old Tina’s quest for stardom.  Marianna Viele gives a delicious performance reminding you one moment of Little Orphan Annie, and then, within seconds the evil Rhoda from The Bad Seed. Her cloying affection barely masks her single-minded determination.

As her homebody mother, Finnie Jesson wears a 1950-s period I Love Lucy-styled dress that establishes instantly where this character is rooted. In a complete about-face she reappears in the second act as an egomaniac star with 2 Tony awards (as she likes to remind us) and a fawning assistant named Eve played to the hilt by Erin Hyde.

Darren Fletcher virtually steals the show with his broad performance (in drag) as Sylvia St. Croix, the agent who encourages young Tina to pursue her dreams of stardom. Fletcher’s vocal mannerisms will remind some of the late actress Bea Arthur with whom he shares a brilliant knack for timing.

Then there’s Donna Jacobs as the poison-penned theatre reviewer Lida Encore who seems to know more about everyone’s back-story than they do themselves. It’s almost hard to say who is nastiest of the bunch, but it’s such fun watching them push each other around.

Merle Garbe as producer and director has seen to it the roles are perfectly cast and that the action moves at a brisk pace. Musical director Ellen Kestenberg ensures that the small band offers solid support and that the singers project the frequently funny lyrics with precision. 

For years friends who had seen the show in New York or Los Angeles assured me that this was one of the funnies shows around, loaded with inside jokes and references to other plays and musicals. I wondered if Toronto audiences would appreciate all of it. I need not have worried. This production is so well tuned that even the more obscure references become self-explanatory. Go – and prepare to laugh yourself silly.

Encore Entertainment’s production of Ruthless – The Musical continues in the Studio Theatre at the Toronto Centre for the Arts until Sunday November 8. Evening performances are at 8 pm with the final Sunday matinee at 2 pm. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Toronto Centre Box Office, online at www.encoreshows.com or by phone at (416) 872-1111.

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Best Lead Performer in a Musical - Top 3

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