Alien Vs. Musical

Reviewed by Terry Morgan
Sacred Fools Theater Main Stage
Through June 26

RECOMMENDED

Last year’s winner of the Best World Premiere Production award at the Fringe, Erik Przytulski and Steve Troop’s Alien Vs. Musical has returned in an expanded version, and while it’s still very funny, it now stretches the joke a bit longer than necessary.

The story posits a place called The Land of Musicals, where all the famous musical characters live on happily forever. Thus Maria (Brianne Sanborn) from The Sound of Music watches over Annie (Allie Costa) from Annie, and Valjean (Matthew Noah) from Les Miserables can fall for Tracy (Ally Mulholland) from Hairspray. Unfortunately, the alien from the Alien series has entered the land and is killing them all for mysterious reasons.

Costa steals the show with her wonderfully earnest Annie, and her rendition of “No Tomorrow” is actually moving. The actor who plays the Alien isn’t credited, but gets big laughs consistently. On the preview performance reviewed, Matthew Tyler’s scene transitions could have used some tightening, but overall this show will delight musical and sci-fi fans.

Sacred Fools Theater Main Stage, 1076 Lillian Way, Los Angeles; www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/220; through June 26. Running time: 1 hour and 30 minute with no intermission.