When the world is threatened with destruction by a school of twenty-one angry tadpoles with psychokinetic brain powers, Cat Kid (who used to be evil, while seeking revenge against Dog Man) comes to the rescue, with the aid of Flippy, the bionic fish (who also once tried to destroy humankind through telekinetic powers), and Molly Pollywog (the tadpoles’ sister, who uses her powers for good). But once the swamp is dosed with the antidote and they lose their wickedness, what’s to become of those poor lost parentless tadpoles? Flippy decides to raise all twenty-two as children of his own, wondering, “How hard could it be?” Turns out it’s harder than he thought, so the three of them come up with a plan to turn the baby frogs nice by starting a comic club and having them make their own comic books, since it was the glory of comics that provided salvation for “supa”-heroes Flippy and Cat Kid.
Will the rambunctious bickering tadpoles be redeemed by unleashing their creativity? Or will their outrageous imaginations flip out Flippy and bring an end to the club? Find out in the high-spirited, hilarious, and heartwarming world premiere of Cat Kid Comic Club The Musical, presented by TheaterWorksUSA (one of the leading creators of theater for family audiences) and adapted from Dav Pilkey’s popular 2020-22 Cat Kid series (published by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.), with book and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila (Tony-nominated actor in Broadway’s Some Like It Hot and award-winning writer of the stage and screen) and music by acclaimed composer Brad Alexander (the same team that brought us the terrific Dog Man: The Musical), now playing a limited Off-Broadway engagement at the Lucille Lortel Theater.
Under the energetic direction of Marlo Hunter, a fabulously entertaining, engaging, and multi-talented cast of six – Jamie LaVerdiere as Flippy, with L.R. Davidson as Poppy, Brian Owen as Curly, Dan Rosales as Melvin, and Markia Nicole Smith as Naomi (all differentiating the distinctive personalities of the tadpoles they portray, and all of whom also starred in TWUSA’s Dog Man), and Sonia Roman as both Cat Kid and Molly (a puppet that’s always on her right hand) – delivers the story, sings and dances to eleven original plot-advancing, character-revealing numbers (with lively choreography by Hunter, orchestrations by Alexander, and musical direction by Paul Staroba), works a variety of puppets (by Fergus Walsh and Matt Acheson/AchesonWalsh Studios), and exuberantly enacts the multiple roles in the comics the tadpoles create.
From “Dennis the Toothbrush Lawyer for Dinosaurs,” “Supa Fail,” “The Cute, Little, Fluffy Cloud of Death,” and “Chubbs McSpiderbutt” (which prompts the initially impatient Flippy to ban such unseemly themes and the use of the word “but”), to the more appropriate and uplifting “Birds, Flowers, Trees” and “My Sister, Naomi” (which brings an end to the incessant taunting and teasing that goes on between Naomi and Melvin, once they begin to understand each other’s situations and perspectives), the top-notch ensemble never fails to bring the laughs, the powerhouse vocals, and the dynamic moves, in a range of styles that includes disco, rap, and hip hop.
They also deliver the character development that’s an integral theme of the didactic story, as Flippy recognizes the need for acceptance and support of his tadpole kids, Naomi and Melvin become loving siblings, and they all get on board with the united comic club that Molly and Cat Kid knew all along would channel their energy in the right direction, of creating rather than destroying. (That’s not really a spoiler; it’s a family-friendly musical, so of course it has a happy ending!).
As appealing as the narrative, music and dance, cast and direction, are the colorful set by Cameron Anderson, props by Emmarose Campbell, costumes by Jen Caprio, and lighting by David Lander that perfectly capture the linear graphic-design comic-book style of the show and the childlike makeshift stories created by the young tadpoles, enhanced by Scott Stauffer and Jesse Desrosiers’ vivid sound.
Along with all the lovable fun and non-stop laughs in the irresistible Cat Kid Comic Club The Musical come important lessons about getting along, treating everyone equally, not being afraid to fail, and the power of creativity to inspire. They’re great takeaway messages for tadpoles, kids, and adults alike!
Running Time: Approximately 65 minutes, without intermission.
Cat Kid Comic Club The Musical plays through August 27, 2023, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street, NYC. The show is recommended for grades 1 through 5; children under age 4 not admitted. For tickets (priced at $47-87, plus fees), go online. Masks are not required.