THE TOMKAT PROJECT – Theatre Review: Stray Cat Theatre, Tempe

Sunday, April 26, 2015
Valley Screen and Stage

REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS



In many respects, THE TOMKAT PROJECT is the perfect antidote to HBO’s documentary. It’s like a release to all the jaw-dropping revelations in the film. While watching the cable doc, you wanted to laugh, but couldn’t; it was all too horrifying. TOMKAT wants you to laugh.



The cast, all seven, are terrific. Kellie Dunlap, Chanel Bragg, David Choley and Tim Shawyer jump from exaggerated character to character at a moment’s notice while the remaining three stick to their singular, assigned role. Brandi Bigley’s Katie has just the right amount of mid-western cuteness that sticks out like a sore thumb when surrounded by west coast sharks, and while Chris Mascarelli looks nothing like Cruise, he nevertheless manages to promote the essence of the movie star with a distinctive Cruise laugh and hand gestures. However, given the right light and caught at the right angle, Mascarelli is actually a dead ringer for Russell Crowe.



The standout is David Chorley’s hilarious David Miscavige. He plays the current church leader as a hammy, fey London thespian. To add to the visual humor of the show, Chorley appears to be the tallest man in the production, towering over everyone, when in fact, at 5’ 1”, Miscavige is even more diminutive than Tom Cruise.



...THE TOMKAT PROJECT keeps hitting target after wicked target with a pulse that never quits.



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

THE TOMKAT PROJECT