The Wild Party

The joint’s a-rockin’ with the adult-themed bohemian debauchery of the eponymous wild party in Green Valley Theatre Company’s shimmering, shaking, humping production of Andrew Lippa’s 2000 Drama Desk Award-winning play based on an obscene poem from the Roaring ’20s.

That doesn’t mean it’s not a breathtaking show—just make sure you’ve brought along the heart medicine if you bring grandma with you, and most definitely leave the kids at home.

Directed by Christopher Cook, who also conducts the fine orchestra, The Wild Party is the product of a disintegrating relationship between burlesque stripper Queenie (Andrea St. Clair, with a powerful stage presence) and vaudeville clown Burrs (the amazing Jacob Montoya, who gives new meaning to the term “scary clown”). Queenie plots retaliation for Burrs’ insult to her by embarrassing him at their party. Her plan derails when Kate (Lindsay Grimes, playing a woman of low morals with a heart that beats for Burrs) brings the mysterious Black (Ryan Allen, who plays tall and handsome with a heavy dose of hopeful) with her. As Queenie and Black’s flirtation deepens, Kate tries unsuccessfully to woo Burrs, and the party—with guests from all the wild walks of life—evolves into a booze, coke and sex-fueled orgy.

This cannot end well, of course.

Fortunately, the power of the four lead performers—not to mention their pipes and dance moves—make the inevitable result of mixing jealousy and excess worthy of our time. Add in some fantastic production numbers choreographed by Carly Sisto, a couple of songs worth humming for days after (particularly the borderline-blasphemous “A Wild, Wild Party”), Green Valley’s usual top-notch production standards and energy, and it all totals a bathtub full of gin-soaked entertainment for the adults-only crowd.