Musical ‘Claudio Quest’ based on video game
by Jackie Moe
Move over, Mario: There is a new video game hero in town – and not only does he rescue princesses and destroy killer eggplants, he sings and dances too.
The new musical “Claudio Quest” transforms its three-dimensional audience into the two-dimensional video game world, no game controller or arcade tokens necessary. The Chance Theater is presenting the West Coast premiere with previews through Friday, and regular performances beginning Sunday for a three-week run.
Written and directed by Marshall Pailet, who also produced the theater’s past production “Loch Ness,” the parody musical may generate nostalgia with familiar-looking game characters and situations, including the plumber brothers Claudio and Luis, monsters, rivers of lava and colorful obstacles.
The comedic storyline follows Claudio, played by actor Beau Brians, and his brother and sidekick Luis, played by Chance returner Andrew Puente, who work together to fight enemies, advancing from level to level. Luis, however, struggles with living in his older brother’s shadow, which he expresses through song in the first act’s musical number “Player Number Two.”
The brothers are on a quest to rescue Princess Poinsettia, played by Chance returner Kim Dalton, from the evil platypus Bruiser, with the help of her strong-willed sister Princess Fish, played by Chance returner Monika Pena. Pailet said that although the story has a series of silly sequences and funny moments, there is also an existential message about brother and sisterhood, free will, and life and death.
“Actors are leaping from platforms, dodging obstacles, kicking and punching things, and in between we have these heartfelt, coming-of-age scenes of family members on this quest together, trying to figure out who they are and how they fit in this world,” Pailet said.
Pailet, who co-wrote the music, lyrics and book with his former roommate Drew Fornarola, said it took several years to adapt the digital world onto the stage. The first act of the musical has been presented at the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, D.C., and the New York Music Theatre Festival, but the Chance Theater run will be the first time the full production is presented.
The set will appear like a large television with metal platforms that scroll rapidly across the stage from left to right as the actors advance through the “game levels.” As the characters move forward and grow up in the story, the set progresses too, with high-tech lighting and sounds – as if the game is developing from classic to modern digital game consoles.
Dressed in brightly colored costumes, the eight-person ensemble will carry cardboard cutouts of various digital-appearing symbols and figures, which Pailet said will look similar to the characters and symbols in games such as “Super Mario World.”
“Our choreographer, Maxx Reed, has created a two-bit animation, hip-hop choreography, which is physically demanding, especially since the cast never really leaves the stage,” Pailet said. “But this talented group amazes me every day with their dedication and positivity; it is exhausting for them, but they look and sound great.”
With musical direction by Ryan O’Connell, the production presents original orchestrations that Pailet describes as “8-bit rock and roll” with synthesizers, inspired by the music in vintage video games, to electric rock.
“The music evolves as the characters evolve, which is really cool because the audience will be able to feel like they are playing and moving forward in the game too,” Pailet said. “The music is also so upbeat and fun that people will hopefully be rocking out in their chairs.”
The family-friendly show can be appreciated by all ages, whether one is a video game fan or not, said Pailet.
“A lot of bonding time with my brother and my friends growing up was spent playing video games, so to me, video games represents family,” said Pailet. “We wrote the show so that the audience has a great time with lots of laughter, but also leaves with a deeper message of life choices and the importance of family.”
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