A Karate Kid Musical
Directed by Chad Wise
May 2, 2003 - June 28, 2003
Boxer Rebellion Theatre -
1257 W. Loyola -
Chicago, Illinois
TICKETS: $15.00 General Admission -
773-989-4515
MIYAGI! A KARATE KID MUSICAL
New Millennium Theatre Company will continue its 5th Anniversary Season with MIYAGI! A Karate Kid Musical, opening May 2nd and running through June 28th, Friday and Saturday at 10:30 pm.
MIYAGI! A Karate Kid Musical is an irreverent, unauthorized, musical parody of the 80's coming of age film "The Karate Kid" from the same creative team that brought this spring's smash hit EVIL DEAD! The Musical to the stage. Filled with both original songs and some familiar favorites, MIYAGI! A Karate Kid Musical tells the story of Daniel LaRusso, an East Coast boy who moves to California only to have his life turned upside down by a pack of karate-wielding bullies and a pretty girl from the right side of the tracks. Just when it can't get any worse, Daniel meets Mr. Miyagi, a mild mannered handyman whose calm demeanor hides a powerful secret. With Miyagi's help, Daniel learns a little about himself, life and, of course, karate. In MIYAGI! A Karate Kid Musical, this well known story takes a decidedly different turn as the characters' powerful emotions force them into rousing songs and dazzling dance numbers. With influences ranging from the classic "West Side Story" to the Vanilla Ice vehicle "Cool as Ice", MIYAGI! A Karate Kid Musical pays homage to the original while providing a fun, entertaining and often hilarious take on a classic piece of 80's nostalgia.
The cast of MIYAGI! A Karate Kid Musical includes John Francisco, Kim Irwin Dildine, Zenna Wise, Jason Bone, Lisa Baer, Andy Grigg, Ehren Fournier, Eustace Allen, Erik Schnitger, Allison Ungar & Guy Schingoethe. Directed by Chad Wise, Musical Directors - Jonathan Webb & John Francisco, Dance Choreography- Leslie Kerrigan, Fight Choreography- Arik Martin, Stage Manger- Ian McPhaden.
All performances are at the Boxer Rebellion Theater, 1257 W. Loyola, one block west of the Red Line Loyola L Stop. The show will run May 2nd - June 28th, Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 pm. Tickets are $15 general admission and are available at the door or call 773-989-4515. www.nmtchicago.org
MIYAGI! A KARATE KID MUSICAL
New Millennium Theatre Company, at Boxer Rebellion Theater.Watching this late-night romp sober doesn't do it any favors. An unashamedly unauthorized musical version of the 1984 kiddie klassic that did not make Ralph Macchio a star, this smart-ass adaptation by director Chad Wise and musical director Jonathan Webb borrows tunes from, among other victims, Abba, Vanilla Ice, and Beauty and the Beast.
Here Daniel is a soccer-playing New Jersey underdog who moves to California, where he falls in love and fights the Cobra Kai dojo, a bunch of snobbish punks who know all the right moves but not the spirit of karate. This Daniel learns from Kesuke Miyagi, a guru-mechanic whose lessons in how to sand and wax car exteriors apply directly to demolishing a Cobra rival in a martial-arts showdown. Achingly faithful, this 90-minute parody conveys the movie's mindless optimism with cheesy choreography, overwrought acting, and a few too many ad-libs. John Francisco, who goes beyond Macchio's blue-collar cuteness to Jerry Lewis excess, jerks up a funky storm as tempestuous teen "Daniel-san," Kim Irwin Dildine is hilariously pseudoprofound in the title role, and Zenna Wise emotes charmingly as Daniel's California dreamer. If nothing here rises to the level of camp travesty, consider the bland source. Still, a nondrinking audience will never give this trifle the indulgence it demands.
--Lawrence Bommer
Then we go see “Miyagi! A Karate Kid Musical”
No, really.
It’s playing at the Boxer Rebellion Theater which is much smaller than any single event of the rebellion. The bathroom door is stage right. You get to watch people wait in line for the bathroom before the play starts.
Once the play starts, you know what you’re in for right away. The set: a black background concealing the set for the other play going on right now. The foreground: two people sitting behind a cardboard cutout of the front of a car. Oh, yeah. I know where we are, baby.
The basic idea is that they take the dialogue from “The Karate Kid” almost verbatim and run that as a play. Then they throw songs in. Mostly to the tune of other popular songs. “Golf ‘n’ Stuff,” which celebrates Danny and Ali’s fateful first date, is sung to the tune of “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart”. “Mister Miyagi” is sung to the tune of “Dancing Queen”. Think about it. “Mii-ya-giiii…” It fits.
The whole thing fits, actually. It’s hilarious. It combines the overacting of 80’s flicks with the overacting of Broadway musicals. It’s like putting a layer of mozzarella over a layer of pepper jack. Genius. It helps that the guy playing John Kreese (Cobra Kai Sensei) delivers each line by channeling a different method actor. The line he delivers as Christopher Walken nearly gets a standing ovation.
Remember the guy who apologizes to Danny for his illegal kick? During the “Cobra Kais Are Coming” rap (yes, there’s a rap) he stops and sings “I’m the seeensitiiive ooone…I do karate cos’ it’s fuuun.”
But that’s not the best part.
During the car ride to their first date Daniel says “I want to go home” at which point Ali waves her hand in front of his face and says “You already are” and she and Daniel’s mom proceed to sing “Tiny Dancer”.
But that’s not the best part.
They DO sing the song “The Best Around” and it does stay stuck in your head for at least a week.
But that’s still not the best part.
No, the best part is they keep what is by far the best line in the movie, nay, in 80’s film history…
“Yeah, Johnny, put him in a body baaaaag!”
I nearly leapt out of my seat when I heard that.
Chicago theater, I’m glad to report, is alive and well.
-- by David at http://travelindave.blogspot.com/