Broken pipelines, rolling blackouts and real estate fraud -- ah, life in corrupt paradise. GUV TV, the long-awaited sequel to GUV: The Musical, picks up where the original cult classic left off, making light of our most notorious politicos, as well as polygamous cults in Colorado City and the recent alternative-fuels fiasco. The stories are woven together through a fictitious local news program that profiles the seriocomic deeds of governors and other state officials including "Plane" Jane Hull, Sheriff Joe, and Fife Symington. Are any public figures off limits when it comes to the revue's witty barbs? Absolutely not. "We're equal-opportunity offenders," says director Philip Taylor.
While GUV TV is intended to be performed as written, without improv, the actors are poised to add additional scenes should breaking news arise. "The show is so freewheeling that if something would come up, we could incorporate it in two days," says Taylor. So where did these guys dig up their dirt? "Ben's been here most of his life," Taylor explains, referring to co-author Ben Tyler. "He knows where the bodies are buried."
GUV TV opens with a performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 20, at Theater 4301 at the Galleria Corporate Centre, 4301 North Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale, and continues through November 6. Tickets are $36. Call 480-994-2787 or visit www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org. -- Wynter Holden
Prop Art
Send in the pink Marines
10/21-10/22
"Dammit, I can't find my water gun. I can't go on without my water gun," laments Ronnie the Prop Comic in the Seinfeld classic "The Fire." Though the Seinfeld writers were (lovingly) dissing the prop-comedy genre, they obviously hadn't met Denny Johnston. The L.A. maestro's repertoire includes Sergeant Savage, a gay Marine with a pink helmet and matching pink gun; an impersonation of Jack Nicholson wearing the Jason mask from Friday the 13th; and a country singer with a big, honkin' set of false teeth. Johnston gets his props at 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, October 21, and Saturday, October 22, at The Comedy Spot, 7117 East Third Avenue in Scottsdale. Tickets are $12. Call 480-945-4422 or visit www.thecomedyspot.com. -- Clay McNear