THE TOMKAT PROJECT – Review

Sunday, April 26, 2015
Talkin' Broadway

REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS



...a humorous play, with several laugh out loud moments, and Stray Cat has assembled a small and very talented cast who play the dozens of characters involved in the Cruise and Holmes story with chameleon like grace.



Director Louis Farber stages the proceedings with a fast pace and a cast of seven who are exceptional. Chris Mascarelli has a fairly good handle on Cruise's famous mannerisms and way of speaking, and while he doesn't actually look much like the famous actor, and is considerably taller than him, his portrayal of Cruise, especially in the second act, actually makes you feel sorry for him. Also, his delivery of Cruise's marriage proposal where he uses lines and catch phrases from various Cruise films is a gem. Brandi Bigley has Holmes' signature mannerisms down pat, from her constant need to touch and often move her hair to how she sometimes talks out of the side of her mouth in a somewhat quiet way. She brings an appropriate sense of naiveté to the part but in the second act also portrays Holmes as the manipulator with a gleam in her eye.



The rest of the cast vividly play dozens of characters, from Steven Spielberg to Scarlett Johansson, Oprah Winfrey, and Nicole Kidman as well as studio executives, lawyers, parents and friends of the couple. David Chorley is brilliant as the conniving, manipulative Scientology front man David Miscavige but also does nice work as several other less manipulative parts including a hilarious brief cameo as Tom Hanks. Tim Shawver is just as good as Katie's confused dad, who is determined to get her away from Cruise, business obsessed Viacom head Sumner Redstone, and the somewhat confused Spielberg. Kellie Dunlap morphs with a refined ease between Katie's mom and the relentless Orth, and even gets to play baby Suri Cruise. Chanel Bragg is a hoot as Oprah, brings a refined sense of elegance to Kidman, and has a blast as Cruise's male lawyer. The fact that none of the actors looks anything like these famous people only adds to the fun of the show. As Ogborn, Brady Weber is basically the straight man of the piece, yet he keeps the facts, dates, and play moving along at a brisk pace.



THIS IS AN ABRIDGED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL REVIEW - READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY BELOW

THE TOMKAT PROJECT