‘Jurassiq Parq’ roars to life at Oasis
Snaxx, as Triceratops, and the ensemble make the dinosaurs soar in Jurassiq Parq. The “musiqal parody” runs through Aug. 2 at Oasis. Photo by Nicole Fraser-Herron
With the seventh Jurassic Park movie in theaters, now is the perfect time to revisit the beginning of the seemingly endless dinosaur franchise – but in a distinctly San Francisco way.
Jurassiq Parq, a “musiqal parody,” is the brainchild of writer-director Michael Phillis, and its gritty, glitzy, bawdy exuberance makes it the real blockbuster of the summer.
The Oasis nightclub – the City’s drag epicenter and hotspot for queer arts – has been transformed into the jungles of a remote island near Costa Rica where a mad scientist (Vanilla Meringue as Colonel Sanders Hammond) and his team of geneticists have tampered with nature by reintroducing dinosaurs to the world.
These dinosaurs are like something out of Rocky Horror-meets-Hedwig-meets-Cabaret, and though they’re more fabulous than terrifying, they are eating the island’s human inhabitants. Oh, and they’re singing re-written pop hits from the ‘90s, 2000s and beyond.
Marshall Forte (left) is Dr. Jeff Goldblum, Vanilla Meringue (center) is Colonel Sanders Hammond and Elenor Irene Paul is Dr. Laura Dern in Jurassiq Parq. Photo by Nicole Fraser-Herron
Immersive, interactive and intensely funny, this theme Parq is smart where it needs to be and silly everywhere else. Parodies can sometimes feel slapdash and disposable – this is not that kind of parody. There is some serious talent on display here, both in the company and the creative team.
From the beginning, when Meringue’s Colonel begins to tell us about the disaster that has befallen his ill-advised enterprie, you know you’re in good hands with this company. The laughs come fast and furious, the comic timing is assured, and the musical numbers (featuring choreography by Rory Davis) are a kick in the pants.
The heroic-nerdy scientists who arrive to help the Colonel tame his rampaging beasts happily bear the names of the actors who played them in the movie. Dr. Laura Dern (Elenor Irene Paul) assures us she’s the “strong female lead” and Dr. Jeff Goldblum (Marshall Forte) exposes his formidable torso at every given opportunity. Dr. Sam Neill is mostly MIA, but we also have island staff members Dr. BD Wong (Trixie Aballa) and Samuel L. “Hold on to Your Butts” Jackson (Cal Cadian).
Also on hand as potential dinosaur dinner are the Colonel’s grandchildren, Lexxx (the triple-x Barbie Bloodgloss) and Timy (Kitty Litter, who gets along just fine with a single “m”).
Sparkle, T-Rex, sparkle! Puppets are by Dave Haaz-Baroque. Photo by Nicole Fraser-Herron.
Watching this crew rock out to the hits of Britney Spears, Madonna, TLC, Guns N’ Roses, 4 Non Blondes, Chappell Roan and many more is a hoot. And it’s interesting to note that another big show in town (the Broadway tour of &Juliet) uses some of the same songs but this one is way more fun.
If you’re looking for rapturous raptors, look no further than the trio of Madeline Lambie, May Simon Ramos and Ryan Patrick Welsh, but the star of the show is, of course, the one with the biggest build-up. That would be the T-Rex, which does not disappoint thanks to puppet designer Dave Haaz-Baroque. All the designs are dazzling, including costumes by Kypper Snacks and clever video by Phillis (the scene with the real-life Colonel interacting with his on-screen avatar is hilarious and well-staged).
There’s so much to parody in our world, and there just don’t seem to be as many talented parodists as there once was. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons Phillis’ Jurassiq Parq is such a breath of fresh air – a comic jolt and a helluva good time for grownups. You might even say it’s a classiq of the form.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Jurassiq Parq, written and directed by Michael Phillis, continues through Aug. 2 at Oasis, 298 11th St., San Francisco. Running time is 2 hours (including one intermission). Tickets start at $57.33. There is limited seating and standing. Visit sfoasis.com.
