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| SING LIKE AN EGYPTIAN (standing left to right): Beth Cheryl Tarnow (Judge), Erika Amato (Cleopatra), Ryan Williams (Soothsayer), Bret Shuford (Marc Antony), Rebecca Riker (Enobarbus), (center) Bruce Sabath (Julius Caesar) in 'The Sphinx Winx.' Photo: Peter James Zielinski. |
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Theater
Review
Sphinx Winx: Satirical spin on Ancient Egypt
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THE SPHINX WINX
Written by Philip Capice, Anne Hitchner, Kenneth Hitchner, Jr., & Robert Keuch
Music by Kenneth Hitchner, Jr.
Choreography by Tara Jeanne Vallee
Musical direction by Jeffrey Lodin
Directed by Matthew Hamel
Through June 19, 2011
The Beckett Theatre
410 West 42nd Street
(212-239-6200), www.TheSphinxWinx.com
Click here to download the review
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By Scott Harrah
In The Sphinx Winx, a musical-comedy misinterpretation of Ancient Egypt, the story of Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony is skewered for laughs. Anyone expecting an accurate depiction of the Queen of the Nile and her minions might be disappointed, but this ambitious little show definitely delivers the comic goods. It lampoons not only history but everything from Britney Spears to Wikipedia, with a few silly, cartoonish nods to such modern media sensations as Sarah Palin and Nancy Grace.
The show originated in 1952, where it was written and performed by
students at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Its script was
then reportedly locked in a vault for more than five decades until
librettist Bob Keuch found it in 2006 and worked with the original
authors to condense the three-hour show into 90 minutes. An Equity
Showcase was presented in 2008, followed by two staged readings until
its current incarnation as an Off-Broadway musical on Theatre Row.
The Sphinx Winx is primarily a satirical caricature of the classic tale of the kingdom of Egypt in deep debt to the Roman Empire due to Caesar (Bruce Sabath) and his carefree spending on Cleopatra (Erika Amato). When Marc Antony (Bret Shuford) arrives in Egypt to investigate, things do not exactly go as planned, especially after the court’s Soothsayer (Ryan Williams) falsely predicts that Antony will fall for Cleopatra.
The chemistry between Mr. Shuford as Marc Antony, and Rebecca Riker as his true love, Crecia, is especially noteworthy. Their voices harmonize beautifully in such songs as “Must Be Falling in Love” and “One of These Days.”
Ms. Amato, as Cleopatra, shows off her impressive vocals, particularly in the song “Queen of Today.”
Director Matthew Hamel needs to rein in some of the over-the-top performances here, but in a musical comedy this intentionally giddy, it almost does not matter. The show still has the homespun feel of a showcase, but there is enough genuine talent in the cast to make The Sphinx Winx worth a look.
Published May 18, 2011
Reviewed at press preview performance on May 15, 2011
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