By Cynthia Citron  

There’s no place like 1920s New York for a wild party. Or, for that matter, the Hudson Mainstage in Hollywood, where the Blank Theatre Company has assembled an exquisite cast of 15 for the west coast premiere of Michael John LaChiusa and George C. Wolfe’s Tony-nominated musical. 

The Wild Party is hosted by dancer Valarie Pettiford, she of the 7-foot legs, and the extraordinary Eric Anderson, who can morph from a clown to a villain with just a twist of his torso.

Their guests include James Black and Julie Dixon Jackson, a mixed-race couple; Kirsten Benton Chandler and Daisy Egan, a lesbian couple; Nathan Lee Graham and Daren A. Herbert, a gay couple; and Jane Lanier and Innis Casey, a diva and her gigolo; Sally Kellerman as a faded glamour queen; Sasha Wexler as a precocious 14-year old; and Sam Zeller as a good-time Charley. Also Michael Kostroff and Peter Van Norden, a couple of Jewish theater mogul wannabes named Gold and Goldberg, who play inoffensive stereotypes, oy vey! 


Sally Kellerman, Michael Kostroff and Peter Van Norden size each  other up in The Wild Party

All of these actors are so uniformly terrific that it’s hard to single out any of them for special kudos, but if you twist my arm I’d have to admit that Nathan Lee Graham and Daren A. Herbert bring exceptional pizzazz to their shenanigans as flirtatious lovers.  But then, so does Eric Anderson, who dominates the stage with his dark Nixonian antics.

Jane Lanier, who also serves as choreographer for this production, has given everyone a chance to strut his stuff, and composer Michael John LaChiusa has provided a musical score that is both musical and memorable.  Which is certainly a unique and welcome surprise after we’ve had to sit through so many trite, discordant, and forgettable productions in recent years. 

George C. Wolfe, who won Tonys for his direction of Angels in America, and Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk has written the book (with LaChiusa) for The Wild Party and it is an intelligent, character-driven drama that is well-served by its songs and musical score.  

This production is directed by Daniel Henning, the Artistic Director and Producer of the Blank Theatre Company, and he keeps the play moving and the actors at fever pitch throughout. The beautiful Valarie Pettiford plays the vampy, trampy Queenie with grace and class, as always, and displays her considerable vocal talents as well as her vivacious and supple dance moves. 

The entire cast, in fact, is an amazing ensemble of voices, powerful, sweet, and true.  Even Sally Kellerman, whose voice is soft and weak, gives a Marlene Dietrich-like performance, singing in a low, gravelly baritone that is oddly effective. 

The Wild Party, and a lot of decadence and gin, have everyone pairing off with partners that they didn’t necessarily come in with.  There are fights and confrontations and a surprise ending that preaches a moral about the wages of sin. And everyone leaves with the partners they came in with.

It’s a party you might not want to go to, but a play you definitely want to see. The Wild Party continues Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays through November 20 at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.