After five years, the Garage Theatre closes out its goofy epic of a melodrama

PHOTO by JAMI JOHNSON

Despite having origins in literary figures as serious as Rousseau and Goethe, melodrama is somewhat inherently farcical, full of stock characters, simpleminded sensationalism, and all things simultaneously hyperbolic and lite. We modern folk tend to call it escapism.

That’s exactly why the Garage Theatre has so looked forward to its last production of each year since 2003, slated for their “holiday melodrama”: it’s a chance just to have fun after a year of more serious work.

Since 2005 that slot has gone to installments of Jamie Sweet’s five-part good-versus-evil story taking place in our own Pike of the past—i.e., the one that had a real roller-coaster and not that wavy whatever-it-is there now—centering around hero Rod McGirdlebutt’s attempt to woo Dixie Troobaloo while vanquishing the villainous Ian Sidious.

Those character names tell you all you need to know about the tone: it’s goofy by design, beyond whatever goofiness may be inherent to the genre. And because that’s the whole point, you really don’t need to have seen Parts 1 through 4 to enjoy Part 5 (in any case, during the opening you get enough of a recap to catch the drift of the characters and how they’re related), because the plot is subservient to the silliness. There are silly songs and audience participation and graffiti opportunities and improv—everything that isn’t supposed to be part of a night at the (say it with a pompous accent) thea-tah. That’s why this show is as good for kids as for adults. Plus, there’s free ice cream!

Any reserve on the part of the cast is doom for a show like this; fortunately, there’s no problem here, as the company is as committed to their craft as always. An equal commitment has been made to the set design, whose quasi-authentic, sparkly period signage seems something right out of the counterfactual Bedford Falls that George Bailey wanders through while learning that he really had a wonderful life. (End gratuitous Christmas reference.)

While the dis of “Champagne Supernova” is unjust, the many anachronistic musical references work. Heck, if you’re in the mood for silly, the whole thing works.

ROD MCGIRDLEBUTT STRIKES BACK, OR THE SUN SETS ON THE CYCLONE RACER ONE LAST TIME THE GARAGE THEATRE • 251 E SEVENTH ST • LONG BEACH 90813 • 866.811.4111 • FRI 8PM, SAT 2-7PM, SUN 2PM • $5-10 • THROUGH DECEMBER 20 • THEGARAGETHEATRE.ORG

Tags: melodrama, Performance, rod mcgirdlebutt strikes back, the garage theatre, Theater