Theater Review: 'BROKE The Game Show Show" at Center Stage Theatre

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

The title of the show is “BROKE The Game Show Show,” and it is, in fact, an interactive game show with a book and music by C. E. Simon and lyrics by Liz Muller. Center Stage Theatre is presenting three performances of this fun show on their stage in Shelton under the direction of Liz Muller. The show closes on June 15 at 7:30 p.m. and patrons are allowed to bring food and drink to enjoy at the cabaret table seating.

Press materials describe the concept of the show in this manner: “BROKE The Game Show Show - where interactive mayhem meets theatrical flair! BROKE will have you buzzing in and freaking out! Join Hank and Alex for a ruckus good time playing trivia, charades, hangman, and more! Play from the audience or come on stage to join the fun! Who knows, you may even win! Do you have to be good at anything? Nope! Does it help if you are? Nope! Are you game?”

At the performance that I was invited to attend, most of the audience got into the game show aspects and gamely answered questions in order to become an onstage contestant. There are plenty of gags written into the script of the doomed gameshow, some funnier than others, and the cast did well both the scripted lines and lots of ad libbing. Everything works in reverse in this silly game show.

The video design for the show is the work of C. E. Simon and when it works properly is pretty impressive. When it misfires, and it often does, it becomes pretty funny and adds to the mayhem.

Ryan Myers plays the role of Hank, the often overwhelmed host of the game show. Myers is an improviser (and it shows in this performance,) as well as a teacher, and actor based in St. Louis. Ryan earned a degree in vocal performance and I wished that there was more singing for him to do.

Ashley Rube shines in the role of Alex, the stage manager/technical director of the live broadcast. Rube (Alex) is a St. Louis-based improviser, teacher, coach, and actor. She is a faculty member of Saint Louis University High School (Fine Arts) and The Improv Shop (long-form improvisation.) and she tours with her co-star on Touch Baseball, their two-person team. And here is a sentence in a bio that I have seldom seen: “Before finding her way to improvised theater, she worked in education, non-profit advocacy, and (briefly) dairy farming.”

VANNA, the acronym of the computer program "Virtual Artificial Neural Network Association" that is supposed to run the game, is voiced by Liz Muller. The voice of the control booth is Scott Sheldon. There is one musical number for Hank and Alex and was so well-performed that it left me wanting more.

The game show features four dancers dressed in identical costumes and dubbed “The Brokettes”

Kayna Banez of Shelton returns to Center Stage to dance as one of the Brokettes. Thank you to this lovely dancer who will be working this fall at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown as a Special Education Teacher.

Zola Kneeland also returns to this stage to appear as a Brokette. Kneeland appeared in “Catch Me If You Can” as Paula Abagnale and in “Footloose” as Ariel. She is a proud junior BFA Musical Theatre major at Western Connecticut State University, where I have seen many of her performances and I hope to be able to review her performance as Hannah Pitt in “Angels in America: Part Two, Perestroika” this fall at WestConn.

Julia Murphy, who has trained in ballet, modern, contemporary, tap, and jazz with local dance companies for 15 years, returns to Center Stage to dance as a Brokette. She enjoys assistant teaching during the week with the Center Stage Education Center, and assistant directing shows for the youth. Murphy will be attending Hofstra University in the fall for film production with a minor in dance.

Rounding out the dancing Brokettes is Sophia Perrone, who also returns to this stage. She’s a proud graduate of Academy of Dance in Woodbridge, as well as Educational Center For The Arts in New Haven. Sophia will be attending Hofstra University in the fall, studying education and dance.

The book and music writer describes himself as a storyteller, whether through writing, photography, graphic arts, sound design, or music. He has worked in collaboration with his longtime partner in art and life, Liz Muller, and has created multiple stage productions, award-winning short films and podcasts, and most recently walkthrough attractions for Valleyfair Amusement Park.

In his bio, Simon admits that “Broke” is a departure in many ways, but credits the support of his collaborator and the members of the cast for elevating this project to the “raucous, chaotic, wild time he hoped it could be.”

The video design for the show is the work of Simon, and when it works properly it is pretty impressive. When it misfires, and it often does, it becomes pretty funny and adds to the mayhem. There are also some fun low key special effects…my table loved the bubbles. The costumes work for the characters, with one change for the cast for the finale. The massive VANNA is the only real set piece, with chairs and microphones for the contestants.

Muller was recently appointed the Creative Director for Center Stage Theatre. She is a resident music supervisor for Norwegian Cruise Line and was a music supervisor for the Broadway musical “SIX.” She is co-creator of “BINGO Jamboree - A Musical With Balls,” which also was performed at Center Stage and was lots of fun. Muller thanks her partner for helping her to bring what she calls these “insane ideas to life.” The light and sound worked well at the performance that is presented without an intermission.

There is some foul language in the script and some mild sexual situations. Thank you to the production team and Carla Sullivan for allowing reviewers to be among the first to experience this show that will appeal to game show lovers.

All rehearsal photos courtesy of Center Stage Theatre