‘Plan 9’ musical follows steps of original movie successfully

‘Plan 9’ musical follows steps of original movie
successfully

Directors Smith and Knowles create entertaining twist on Ed Wood
classic

By Jennifer Richmond

Daily Bruin Staff

Ed Wood, dubbed the worst filmmaker of all time, must have done
something right. After all, if it weren’t for him, David Smith and
Mark Knowles couldn’t have come up with "Plan 9 From Outer Space,
the Musical."

Just like Andrew Lloyd Webber with Sunset Blvd., Knowles and
Smith were struck with the idea to make Plan 9 into a musical from
the first moment they saw the clasic B-movie. But unlike Webber,
the two decided to make a parody rather than attempt to take the
science-fiction feature seriously. Because of this twist, the
musical works amazingly well.

"Grave Robbers from Outer Space" begins the show just like any
classic opening musical number should. The entire ensemble
participates and it’s a show-stopper that gets the ball rolling and
keeps it in motion. While most of the show’s other songs have
changed during the musical’s history, this is the one song that
hasn’t changed in the 12 years it’s been worked on.

And it’s no wonder. The song has such umph and pizazz, Smith
decided to add three reprises to the rest of the show. But it’s
really the music that makes this one of the highlights. The music
plants itself in the mind and simply takes over, just like the
aliens in the story. Once it’s there, there’s no escape.

That’s just the beginning of this bizarre
happenstance-on-stage.

Two voices carry the production ­ Jeff and Paula Trent
(John Zipperer and Jaye Maynard). Playing the worried pilot/husband
and his devoted servile ’50s wife, the two leave the audiences in
stitches with their cutting remarks and very ’50s attitude. She
stays home cooking and cleaning while he’s out conquering the world
(and the aliens) just to put bread on the table and save his little
woman from harm.

Paula asks, "Are you scared Jeff?" He answers "Men don’t get
scared. But I’m real worried."

The deliciously politically incorrect "It Takes a Whole Lotta
Man" drives this idea home. From beginning to end the song bashes
Paula.

The men impatiently wait for her to get ready and then Lt.
Dawson (a wonderful James Campbell) sings "This ain’t no job for
the weaker sex" as he looks at her through his rear-view
mirror.

Paula plays up this stereotype with several blood-curdling
screams and swoons from seeing the aliens ­ all classic
routines made famous by other B-movie actresses of the ’50s. But
she really proves her role with her solo, "Paula’s Flying Academy."
Although she sings about how brave Jeff is, she espouses that he’d
do much better on the ground by her side at her "academy."

But while the songs add a great campy feel to this Z-film, it is
Knowles direction that takes the show where none have gone
before.

His decision to include blocking from the film in the production
brings the audience that much closer to the original fiasco. Such
obvious mistakes as having The Ruler (Mark Perry) miss his
designated spot and obviously move to where he’s supposed to be and
Criswell (Mark Knowles) running on stage making a very fake space
saucer fly only add to the musical’s delight, leaving the audience
bowled over from laughter.

These decisions and many others like them make Knowles and
Smith’s production of "Plan 9" just like the original film. Neither
will soon be forgotten.

STAGE: "Plan 9 from Outer Space." Written by Ed Wood. Adapted by
Mark Knowles and David Smith. Music and Lyrics by David Smith.
Running through March 11 at the Hollywood Moguls theater.
Performing Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. TIX: $15. For more
info. call: (213)660-8587.