We find our rock star heroine, Joan, depleted and dejected in her apartment after her ‘amend-ye-evil-way’s plea to the world via a self-funded music video broadcast leads to public mockery. Fortunately for us, she still has enough energy and spunk to carry a tune – the vast majority of this story which is then told through song. Even more fortunate for us is the prowess of lead Emily Webbe who can not only belt it out as expected in a rock musical but can flavor it with variance in volume, melodic improvisation (a la Christina Aguilera), and emotion.
Our heroine Joan posits that had extraterrestrial life approached us, wouldn’t we feel barbaric for the global travesties of war, poverty, and starvation? And then she thinks herself crazy when they (the ‘E.T.’” reference in the title) actually contact her. The Visitors played by Alison Crockett and Dawn Elliott Robinson are delightful due to earnest deliveries of their lines and gorgeous harmonizing within their ballads. In fact the remaining cast of Arielle Goodman, Randall Holloway, and Kyle Keene all hold their own in the singing department. I was pleasantly surprised that not a lyric nor pitch was flubbed in the entire 80 minute run.
The ultimate message to humanity is clear one (thanks in part to a Wikipedia type glossary of important phrases included in the program) albeit the ending plot-wise is a little confusing. And since aliens love rock and roll, why not come get your fix of culture too?
Running time: 80 minutes
When E.T. Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest information and tickets.
