Stage Review - The Stinky Cheese Man [and other fairly stupid tales] (WWCA)
Stage Review - The Stinky Cheese Man (and other fairly stupid tales)
Presented By: Western Washington Center for the Arts (WWCA) - Port Orchard, WA
Show Run: March 01 - March 17, 2024
Date Reviewed: Saturday, March 02, 2024 (Opening Weekend)
Reviewed By: Greg Heilman
Many community theaters build their schedules in a somewhat predictable way, at least at a high level. Bring people in with a familiar show, present a family friendly show for the holidays, then follow it up with something much darker before ending the season with a show that is mainly upbeat or happy. This isn’t to say that every single community theatre follows a cookie cutter approach, but after awhile trends do begin to appear. This season, however, Western Washington Center for the Arts (WWCA), in what is to be its last season at the current Bay Street location in Port Orchard, has switched things up a bit and is putting up a family friendly and altogether lighthearted show here at the beginning of March. In what would be considered March coming in like a lamb, instead of a lion, at WWCA, the show currently onstage through March 17 is The Stinky Cheese Man (and other fairly stupid tales), a mashup of fractured fairy tales with familiar characters and songs, co-directed by Dan Estes and Angela McDermott.
If there’s one thing that’s a certainty on the Kitsap Peninsula, it’s that when Dan Estes’ name is attached to a show, you know it’s going to be fun, whether it’s a Neil Simon play or a farcical family friendly take on some of our favorite fairy tales, the audience is sure to come away smiling. Stinky Cheese Man is no exception. With a cast of thousands (29-ish to be as precise as I can be with a little margin for error), and most of these children, it would seem Dan and Angela would be inviting chaos by taking this on, but however they’ve done it, the pair has built a show that is well organized and anything but chaotic. WWCA’s space has one of the smaller stages in the area, and while some shows there with even less people than this have felt crowded and cramped, this one never does. Then again, it’s so fun that a little stage crowding here and there could be overlooked. Stinky Cheese Man isn’t necessarily a musical, though it does have some songs in it, new lyrics to match the fractured part of these fairy tales sung to familiar melodies. With upwards of 30 people on stage, to hear the group in harmony and see them move without toppling each other over I’d say is surprising if it wasn’t for the fact that Angela McDermott is also the choreographer and vocal director here. Musically, it sounds as though she’s gathered the counties’ best young talent and put them all on the stage together.
The cast isn’t all school age, though. There are a number of extremely talented adults in this cast as well who are featured in one way or another. At the top of that list is Kristi Ann Jacobson once again proving that there is no role that she cannot excel at, in this case the Red Hen from the fairy tale of similar title, The Little Red Hen. Kristi Ann’s stage time is scattered throughout the piece, and each appearance is funnier than the last. Another highlight for me is James Evans as Rumpelstiltskin. This performance comes out of nowhere and is so much more than should be expected for a show that is more fun than serious. James’ accent, his posture, and delivery feels like every good Rumpelstiltskin that I’ve seen elsewhere. Owen Eardley is a sort of creepy and crazy Stinky Cheese Man, Tyler Schuldt is a steady narrator and host as Jack (yes, that Jack, he of giant and beanstalk fame), and Ian Bear is so funny as the Jaded Stage Manager. Ian makes this role his own, and just about steals the show when nobody is looking.
There’s nothing altogether complex about the delivery of The Stinky Cheese Man, and it’s one of those rare shows these days that you don’t have to worry about bringing the family to. The show understands what it is and doesn’t try to do more than that, and as long as you don’t expect more than that, you’ll have a great time.
The Western Washington Center for the Arts production of The Stinky Cheese Man (and other fairly stupid tales) runs onstage in Port Orchard through March 17. For more information, including ticket availability and sales, visit https://wwca.us/.
Photo credit: Four Foot Photography
