Playwright: Tim Kelly; Score: David Reiser At: Quest Theatre Ensemble at Blue Theatre, 1609 W. Gregory. Phone: 312-458-0895; Free, but donations appreciated Runs through Sept. 27
Quest Theatre Ensemble's free admission policy has allowed it to bill itself as "The People's Theatre of Chicago." Now Quest takes that title one step further by producing the cheeky musical melodrama Alas! Alack! Zorro's Back
You can't get more populist than melodrama. Where else do you get to openly cheer and boo the good and bad stock cardboard characters? Even better, the folks at Quest encourage you to throw popcorn at the bad guys, so bring cash to visit the concession stand.
Script-wise, Tim Kelly's version of Zorro is no great masterpiece of plotting or character development. Neither is David Reiser's song spoof score, which features "Hotel Cucaracha" sung to the tune of "Hotel California."
But the artistry all comes with Quest's hilarious execution and over-animated performances. Here Nick Rupard's scenery of scroll-drops and cactus cutouts is picture perfect, while the comic timing of the cast ( in heavily exaggerated make-up ) is a constant delight.
Pavi Proczko is not only the hapless "Old New Mexico" resident Don Alfredo, but he makes for a dashing emcee who commandingly explains all of the show's ground rules.
As usual, it's the villains who have the most delicious roles ( and chances to overact ) .
Jason Bowen's Buck Badum ( the corrupt mastermind who owns the town ) revels in talking trash back to the audience, while Stephen Lydic does his best Yosemite Sam impression as the crooked Sheriff Toady.
Kieran Welsh-Phillips' villainess Conchita could be a bit nastier to Maria Randazzo's heroine, Anita Sweepup, but she ultimately gets the job done.
On the hero side, Stephen Craig Barker is nicely cast as the bespectacled and nebbish visitor Henry who later dons the heroic black tights of Zorro. He's aided in his efforts by Jennifer Young's indignant Aunt Victoria. Erin Robinson's wandering Widder Jones and Angelica Keenan's overly dramatic Senora De La Guitar add to the flavor of the proceedings.
Subtlety is not called for, and director Andrew Park wisely camps it all up when the opportunities arise. Also doing impressive work is the live band led by music director Gary Powell, billed here as Gary and the Four Sombreros.
The sung olio at the top of the second act ( instead of at the end ) is a nice touch, though the referenced cartoon characters like Underdog, Popeye and the Road Runner in the routines are probably more familiar to adults than the kids in the audience.
So if you're looking for theatrical profundity, it's probably best to skip Quest's silly Zorro. But if you want a lot of unfettered fun, be sure to check your brain at the door, drag a kid along and throw as much popcorn as you can.