We've seen too many self-referential, let's-pat-ourselves-on-the-back productions on local stages since we entered 2010, and another one arrived at the Ivory Theatre last night, to run through March 28. Steve Isom and Ben Nordstrom, with a solid Henry Palkes at the piano, are partly responsible for "Gutenberg: The Musical." Scott Brown and Anthony King, who wrote the silly thing, share that blame with the actors and the pain with the audience.
Isom and Nordstrom, armed (or headed) with almost as many baseball caps as the Cardinals, work hard, practically begging for laughs from time to time. But they clown very well, occasionally reminding one of Laurel and Hardy. Nordstrom mugs delightfully, rolling his eyes in a manner reminiscent of legendary vaudevillian Eddie Cantor. They play many characters, identified by nouns printed on the caps saying "Helvetica," (that's a type face and a pun that goes with Gutenberg), "Woman," "Other Woman," "Anti-Semite," "Monk," and many more.
Helvetica, also identified by long blonde braids hanging from her cap, is the heroine, played by both actors during the evening. Both men play many roles under the amusingly over-the-top direction by Bobby Miller, and they do some dancing, too, choreographed by Isom's wife, Ellen. Thommy Crain's costume selections emphasize the silliness and inanity of the project.
Gutenberg uses his press to make wine in the little town of Schlimmer, Germany, but after complaints in one of the better songs, the plaintive "I Can't Read," he decides to make letters instead. Surprisingly, the authors never get around to the next step, book-making, which would get us to bettors (for bettor or worse, of course) and horse-racing, opening the barn doors to the stealing of even more puns.
"Biscuits" and "Monk With Me" are two other good songs, and it was a pleasure to hear the actors, and the writers before them, discussing the paucity of good second acts in today's theater. All in all, there's some charm and wit to the production, along with groans for the puns, and an occasional feeling that we have returned to summer camp.
"Gutenberg: The Musical," at the Ivory Theatre through March 28.
–Joe