Shows that use show business as a backdrop have proven popular, with plays like ‘Noises Off’ and ‘Gypsy’ are often revived. Now, another play about business has opened, this one spoofing musicals.
The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes is now playing at Issaquah’s Village Theatre. Howard is the kind of ordinary person no one notices, and who has little impact on others, but all of a sudden, he can hear music and see people dancing and singing, which might not be too bad, except nobody else can see or hear anything. It turns out that Howard is completely sane, but his circumstances are not; his life has turned into a musical, and he cannott get out. Even worse, he knows almost nothing about musical theater.
Maggie, Howard’s co-worker, does know lots about musicals, and helps him figure things out. She tells him he needs to talk to Stephen Lloyd Rodgers Von Schwartzenheim, who can help him.
The name—which is strung together from the names of some famous musical theater people—makes it clear that the show is full of puns, and pokes a lot of fun at itself, musical theater, and theatrical conventions in general. Managers promoting productions like this can use poster printing to create advertising.
Howard can be found in Issaquah until November 18. Full details are on the theater’s website.
