On paper, an Off-Broadway musical parody of the hit CBS show The Big Bang Theorysounds like absolute home run. Unfortunately, the show was a raunchy, uninspired, nightmare. Let’s just say the knocks I have against this play outnumber those by Sheldon on Penny’s door.
If you’re a fan of the show, or even looking for something a little edgier, this still may not be the night out you expected. I know it certainly wasn’t for myself, and everyone who came with me. The humor, for me, was hyper-sexualized, redundant, and in bad taste (particularly when it came to Walowitz’s deceased mother).
Some of the awkward, raunchy humor included — and I’m dreading even putting this into words — gang banging Thor, robot masturbation, Barbie sex scenes, a scene based around a urinal, and projectile bodily fluids in outer space. Characters are changed dramatically — Bernadette is now a sex-crazed robot, and let’s just say they put the “foul” in Amy Farrah Fowler. Sadly, none of these things I’ve mentioned were cleverly written, or remotely funny.
Yes, I fully realize this is a parody. I also realize this show just wasn’t for me. However, my theater was silent during the show. People left at intermission. It was painfully awkward.
The one and only redeeming quality of this performance was John C. McGowans’s portrayal of Dr. Sheldon Cooper. From the second he started talking his voice was EXACTLY like that of Jim Parsons’. He even got the laugh and the mannerisms down perfectly. He nailed his dialogue, which more times than not was a total mouthful, perfectly.
Unfortunately, the script did he and his fellow cast a huge disservice. The plot revolves around Star Trek: The Next Generation’s fourth wall-breaking character Q coming to Sheldon in a dream (or so we think). There’s a whole messy plot about sex, and the gang being killed and turned into giant ants. Yes, we do see the cast walking around in giant ant heads. This visual combined with an odd soundtrack, loud bongo playing, thrusting and sex noises made for such a trippy time that I questioned what was even happening in this show.
Honestly, I’m always one to try and ind the good in things. However, but this particular show made it incredibly difficult. Unfortunately, this show has absolutely nothing to do with The Big Bang Theory outside of the use of it’s characters. In the end, The Big Bang Theory Musical Parody is much like the cosmos: Cold, dark, and mostly empty.
Rating: 1 out of 10
