For anyone who loathes the upcoming high holy days of manufactured cheer, Working for the Mouse is the best antidote. Ever.
Trevor Allen’s one man show is part homage, part expose and 100% hilarious.
After graduating from high school and before studying drama at UCLA, Allen fulfilled his childhood dream of working as a Disney character. The success trajectory wasn’t as linear as a Peter Pan flight path, but that’s part of the fun.
At seventeen, though, he was a true believer. In magic. In the correlation between hard work and success. And in the power of talent to knock down the barriers between you and your dreams.
This same luminous spirit still shines as he bounces around the stage to a delightful Disneyana score by Cliff Caruthers (who also wrote an original score for Cutting Ball’s Pelleas & Melisande across the street).
Allen marches us right through the Cast Members Only door and introduces us to some real characters. Like the salty, cigar chomping Donald Duck who gets tasked with showing him the ropes. Or the virginal Alice in Wonderland who eventually gets canned for being Matter-horny.
He learns some big lessons over his part-time career with the Mouse. For one, jobs that put food on the table, don’t necessarily feed the soul. He’s also a quick study in navigating the freedom that comes with being an adult. Well, he starts to get it after a few in-park incident reports and an introduction to the Newport Beach PD.
Eventually, he learns the most important lesson of all--to be satisfied with the good you can accomplish in any job.
So, if you like to get your jollies from a rollicking blend of wit, talent and skill, get over to the EXIT this pre-holiday season. Otherwise, stay home and enjoy a rousing episode of the Princess Protection Program on the Disney Channel.
Now through December 17 @ the EXIT Theatre, tickets from Brown Paper Tickets.
Photos courtesy of Cheshire Isaacs.
Thank you for coming out to see the show and for your insightful and wonderful review!
-Trevor "don't call me mad" Allen
Posted by: Trevor Allen | November 06, 2011 at 08:53 PM