Showing posts with label Brian Holden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brian Holden. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

"Starship" Musical Review

"Starship" album cover.
Another musical from the wonderful and talented bunch of Starkid Productions. For the first time in my life, I wish I lived in Chicago. This musical is called "Starship" and was written by Matt Lang, Nick Lang, Brian Holden, and Joseph Walker.

"Starship" poster.
"Starship" centers around the life of Bug, an unusual bug who lives in a hive where everybody is given a job that is decided by the Overqueen of the hive and they have to do their job for the good of the hive. Bug wishes more than anything to become a nobel Starship Ranger. The Overqueen places him in the Hatchery, where he shoves eggs in living mammals chests. Through luck (or is it?) Bug finds an unconscious Starship Ranger named February in the Hatchery and proceeds to help her find her way back to her spaceship. Bug is almost killed for his betrayal of the hive's safety for letting the ranger go, but his friend Roach, who happens to be the Overqueen's new lover, saves him.

Joey Richter (R) and
Dylan Saunders kick it up a notch.
A bug named Pincer that happens to live on the same planet as the hive hears of Bug's plight and wishes to help him find a way to bring the humans back to the planet, surely just out of the kindness of his heart and not out of the groaning of his stomach for human brains. Then Bug is given a human body which he can control psychically. Bug joins the humans on their ship and all sorts of shenanigans happen henceforth.

Brant Cox as Roach.



I'm sorry, I can't put anymore than that without ruining the story for everybody, but you get the idea. Lots of love and acceptance and overcoming the evils of an intergalactic force. Oh...did I mention there's puppets? Yeah, it's pretty awesome!

From left to right: Joe Moses, Lauren Lopez,
Joseph Walker, Dylan Saunders, and Julia Albain.


The story took up a lot of time on this musical. But it was a remarkable and very humorous production. I would've gladly shelled out money to watch this live, although the quality of the Youtube videos simply can't be beat. The bad guys were fantastically evil. I loved the rip on "That G. L. E. E.! Always making crazy adaptations of everything!"



There wasn't as much singing in this one (there was a lot of story to go through). But what was there was excellent! Particularly, "Kick It Up A Notch" sung by Dylan Saunders, Brian Holden, and Jaime-Lyn Beatty. "I Wanna Be" was a great way to open the show. "Hideous Creatures" was a funny way of showing how both species view each other. "Beauty" was wonderful and reminded me a lot of Disney's "The Lion King".

Lauren Lopez on Joseph Walker.
The actors were the usual suspects: Joey Richter as Bug, Denise Donovan as February, Dylan Saunders as Pincer and Tootsie-Noodles, Lauren Lopez as ass-kicking Taz and lovesick Bugette, Brian Holden as Junior, and Joseph Walker as Up, Brant Cox as Roach, and Megan Stephlen as Mega-Girl. The musical also starred Julia Albain, Joe Moses, Jim Povolo, and Jamie-Lyn Beatty.

I gave this show a 4.5 out of 5. I would've liked more singing, but that would've made the show way too long so understandably they put humor instead. I liked this one a lot.



"Me and My Dick" Musical Review

*WARNING: Strong and crude language. Not for the faint of heart. Avert your eyes.*

Brian Holden (L) and Nicholas
Joseph Strauss Matathia.
"Me and My Dick" album cover.
"Me and My Dick" was written by Matt Lang, Nick Lang, Eric Kahn Gale, and Brian Holden with music by A. J. Holmes and Darren Criss. I wasn't sure if I would actually watch this one because of its title. I can't believe someone could actually write a musical based on their dick experiences. I'm glad Freud isn't still around because he would possibly make these people certifiably insane. Although maybe he would enjoy it.... Hard to tell.

Devin Lytle as
Ms. Cooter
Anyway, I really enjoyed this musical. I cringed through the first scene because I honestly didn't know what to expect. I had expectations of people singing, but not a singing dick. That's literally the character's name: Dick. He's (it's?) played by Joseph Walker. The first scene also introduces us to a character named Joey Richter, played by Joey Richter, who owns Dick the way most men usually own their dicks, although his tends to get him in trouble. Both of these characters seek to get laid with the popular girl at school. They might also like to fall in love. Meanwhile, their next door neighbor already loves him but they don't like her because she's a bit geeky. So, the usual love story but with penises and va-ja-jas that sing.

Brian Holden as Flopsy
It wasn't until I got to the second scene that I decided to continue watching it. The deciding factor was Ms. Cooter, played by the talented Devin Lytle. I loved her character. I especially loved Nicholas Joseph (*breathe*) Strauss Matathia's character The Old Snatch. It feels a bit unusual to say that my two favorite characters are dancing and singing pussies. I'm not sure if that makes me sexist or a lesbian or both. (I just want to state right here that I am not a lesbian. Not that there is anything wrong with that.....) And Brian Holden was fabulous as Flopsy.

About the music: The music was quite good. It's obvious that Starkid Productions hold themselves to high standards. The first song is "Me and My Dick" and it's catchy while also explaining the musical's story line. "I've Seen You Around Here Before" is a beautiful love song and has a hilarious reprise in another scene featuring Flopsy, Flopsy being the vagina of the pretty and popular girl. "Listen to Your Heart" and "Gotta Find His Dick" were funny and energizing. "Flight of the Pussies" was grand!

Joseph Walker as Dick (L) and Joey Richter as himself.

I give this musical 4 of 5 stars because of its originality, creativity, and humor. Watch it for yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF0D250702C0684CD&feature=plcp

And buy their music at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/me-and-my-dick-a-new-musical/id349723312



Thursday, May 17, 2012

"Holy Musical B@man" Musical Review

This is a little known musical production by Starkid Productions (the people responsible for 'AVery Potter Musical') that can be watched on Youtube at a URL I will put at the bottom of this blog entry so you will have to read the whole thing to get to it! Muahahahaahahaahaha!

Or you just skip the reading bit and just scroll down to the bottom. I'll try not to hate you forever.

But anyway, it is indeed called 'Holy Musical B@man' (which is also the title of the wonderful first number in the show). Anyway, I freaking loved the show! The music was catchy and awesome! The actors were hot and fantastic! The costumes and lighting and scenery was incredible!





The story is about.... BATMAN!!! What else do you need to know?! Batman, played by the delectable Joseph Walker, has a new archnemesis named Sweet Tooth, played by Jeff Blim, who has the best stage presence EVAR! (Yes, I spelled that wrong, which means it's even more epic than usual!) I also read the best comment, except now I can't find it, so I can't credit the person who wrote it. Oh well, here it is anyway, I'm sure they'll let me know: "If someone had told me before watching this video that I was about to fall in love with a man with blue hair and a pink suit, I would've punched them in the face!" lol Best comment evar!
His 'oh' face, I'm sure.

Also, Superman, played by Brian Holden, shows up and all of the jokes that can be made about Batman vs. Superman's superpowers are mentioned. There is also a song and dance between Batman and Robin, played by Nick Lang, and it is indeed as gay as it sounds. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Hold me tight!





I think this is the only way Batman should be seen ever again! Not just dark and lonely and emo, but singing and wearing tights (screw that Christian Bale version!)

This is almost right up there with the George Clooney version, except it isn't horrible and not likely to blind you after a second viewing.

By the by, I think Joseph Walker shouldn't wear clothes as often as possible! Is that possible?

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL96B8289ADF77A8C4&feature=plcp

UPDATE: I knew there was a reason I felt as if I had heard the "Rise Up, Rise Up" bad guys musical number, because it sounds very similiar to: "The Heart of Rock and Roll" by Huey Lewis and The News. They play this song at my work all of the time. I cry myself to sleep every night.