Thrones! The Musical Parody

Reviewed by Terry Morgan
Hudson Mainstage Theatre
Extended through May 21

RECOMMENDED

A clear sign that something has entered the zeitgeist is when people decide to mock it in song. Now that the TV series Game of Thrones has become a worldwide phenomenon, its time has come. The current production of Thrones! The Musical Parody at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre is an affectionate and hilarious send-up of this popular show, and should be entertaining to both Game fanatics and those unfamiliar with the charms of Westeros.

Linda (Leslie Collins) is still hurting over a recent breakup with her boyfriend when she arrives home to a surprise party thrown by her friends to cheer her up. They want to have a Game of Thrones-themed event, but Linda has never seen the show. Her friends decide to act out the story for her, with Daenerys (Jessica Joy) riding her dragon, Jon Snow (Jordan Stidham) knowing nothing, Tyrion (Chris Grace) being smarter than everyone else and Cersei (Meghan Parks) just being evil.

Collins does a nice job of playing the straight-woman; she’s impressive in a song where she must quickly sing a ludicrously long list of character names, but even better as the face-changing assassin Arya, popping up when least expected. Joy is very funny as Daenerys, bored to tears as her barbarian husband humps away at her, and she displays a lovely singing voice in many numbers. Stidham makes a perfectly doofus Jon Snow, and Grace is very amusing as a morose Tyrion. Parks is terrific in multiple roles, and Al Samuels scores as a consistently sleazy Jorah.

Director John Flynn makes the most of the minimal set and few props, and his version of Daenerys’ dragon — comprised of some cloth wings and an umbrella for a head — is an imaginative triumph. Kimberly McVicar’s choreography makes inventive use of the space and the ensemble. The book and score — by Grace, Samuels, Zach Reino and Dan Wessels — are dense with laughs, although the one serious song about poor Hodor makes for a somewhat awkward change of tone.

Overall, Thrones is a very funny and wonderfully performed spoof, and will work as a great alternative to your typical holiday entertainment.

Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m.; Extended through May 21. www.plays411.com/thrones. Running time: 90 minutes.