Get into a political discussion these days, and the conversation—perhaps despite a joke about sexting and an unfortunately ironic name—probably won’t be funny.
Broadway actor, singer, and dancer Gale McNeeley, however, can find the humor where others don’t. He’s sharpening that well-known wit once again for a new production, Celebrate the American Musical, focusing on Broadway shows. He’ll present it with accompaniment from pianist Betty Faas.
“I think it’s time to poke fun at the government, to draw the curtain on the ridiculousness of what’s being offered to us,” McNeeley said. “I haven’t done a satire piece in a long time, and health care is a good topic.”
So he took aim at the issue, inspired by a news article he read about senior citizens forming a collaborative to grow medical marijuana. Thus, a parody was born—based on the Doris Day song “High Hopes”: “Once I had a silly old aunt / Thought she’d grow a cannabis plant. / Everyone knows an aunt can’t grow a cannabis plant … .”
But it won’t all be political. McNeeley will showcase songs from stage and movie musicals like “Heart” from Damn Yankees, and “I Believe in You” from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, as well as favorites “The Way You Look Tonight” and “Pick Yourself Up.” There will be rarely heard selections as well.
“Some of the tunes are well known, and some are not,” McNeeley explained. “Some are tunes they have probably never heard or never will get to hear anywhere else.”
For instance, McNeeley has performed at PCPA Theaterfest, where he originated the character of The Ghost in the world premiere of The Ghost & Mrs. Muir. Songs from that 1987 show will be in his upcoming musical showcase.
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McNeeley is well known along the Central Coast for his performances—and especially his satire. His local shows include the political satire The Wizard of What?, as well as Fred & Ginger and his one-man show Archy & Mehitabel. He was in the original cast of Two Gentlemen of Verona with Jerry Stiller and Raul Julia, and appeared on Broadway in Cyrano with Christopher Plummer.
He’ll also repeat his well-known rendition of “Lydia the Tattooed Lady,” for which he chooses a woman from the audience to be Lydia for the purpose of displaying her (imaginary) tattoos while he sings.
“I’m also going to bring back Fred Astaire,” he said. “But it will be a comic version of Fred Astaire. When you get older and bigger, when you jump and land, you jiggle.
“He didn’t jiggle,” McNeeley said.
Arts Editor Shelly Cone is looking for a thousand kilowatt lamp. Contact her at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 23-30, 2011.
