Everyone likes a good joke and being in on the joke is certainly better than BEING the joke. Well, usually. Certainly, people that take themselves too seriously are a drag and theater people who take themselves too seriously are often insufferable. Thankfully, Tacoma Musical Playhouse not only likes a good joke, with their latest production - The Musical of Musicals, the Musical! by Eric Rockwell and Joanne Bogart - they ARE the joke. TMP's cast embraces the self-deprecating lyrics and dialogue and camps it up for the audience.

The Musical of Musicals, the Musical! is five musicals in one. Each musical uses different styles but the same plot; the basic conflict and resolution that have graced the stage countless times - girl is in trouble, villain is going to win, hero saves the day and wins the girl. 

The brilliance of this script is how Rockwell and Bogart mash the different musicals from each of the composers together to create the dialogue and the songs. The first musical is in the style of Rodgers and Hammerstein and parodies and references many of their most popular musicals including, The Sound of Music, Cinderella, South Pacific and Oklahoma! The second musical is in the style of Stephen Sondheim and references Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd, among others. The third is in the style of Jerry Herman - Mame and Hello, Dolly! Act II opens up with the fourth musical in the style of Kander and Ebb who wrote Chicago and Cabaret. The final musical is in the style of Andrew Lloyd Webber and parodies Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Phantom of the Opera.

The more of the original musicals you've seen the funnier this production will be. References to the musicals that have permeated popular culture are the easiest to get and will allow even the most novice musical theatergoer to have some laughs. If you've seen any of the original shows at TMP, you will enjoy comparing the staging/props/costumes to the parodies. All the styles are different enough that even if one isn't youR favorite, you will have others to entertain you. 

The cast is relatively small for TMP's usual productions with only nine actors and an accompanist. Many of the actors portray two or three characters throughout the five musicals. While all the actors handled their roles skillfully, as usual, some were more enjoyable to watch than others and maybe it is just a matter of preference of acting styles. Regardless of what acting style you prefer, Elise Campello, Cherity Harchis were standouts among the cast.

The costumes were fabulous and the dance numbers were terrific. The set was minimal but extremely effective. Directors Pauls Macs (musicals one and three), Maria Valenzuela (plays two and five), and Jon Douglas Rake (musical four) did a wonderful job with their casts and created a hilarious production. TMP provides a wonderful opportunity to laugh with AND at theater people.

TACOMA MUSICAL PLAYHOUSE, THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS, THE MUSICAL, THROUGH FEB. 10, 8 P.M. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, 2 P.M. SUNDAY, $20-$29, 7116 SIXTH AVE., TACOMA, 253.565.6867