A brassy, playful summer treat gives Palm Springs audiences another reason to support live theater.
Palm Springs, CA
Everything’s coming up Merman at Prism Theater with The Book of Merman, a playful homage to The Book of Mormon knows exactly what kind of show it wants to be. It is silly, brassy, affectionate, and a lot of fun. Best of all, it never takes itself too seriously.
The musical tells the tale of two Mormon missionaries going door to door on a quest to spread the joys of Mormonism. After being beaten down by rejection, they decide to try one more door. This time, the door belongs to none other than Ethel Merman. For Elder Shumway, one of the missionaries, this is more than a surprise visit. Merman is his idol, and that discovery gives the show just enough heart to keep it from becoming only a camp sketch.
Jared Ryan Kaitz plays Elder Shumway with a sincerity that gives the production some needed truth. In a show like this, the danger is always that everything becomes one big joke. Kaitz helps prevent that by allowing Shumway’s admiration, confusion, and awakening to feel real. There is plenty of camp, but there is also a character underneath it.
Mallory Kerwin plays Ethel Merman, and she is a delight. She has the voice, the line delivery, and the physicality down so well that, at times, you would swear she is channeling the Queen of Broadway herself. She understands that Merman was never small, never timid, and never meant to disappear into the background. Kerwin leans into that larger-than-life presence without losing control of it.
Ryan Avoux rounds out the cast as Elder Braithwaite, the more devout missionary who refuses to let anything take him off course. Avoux gives the character the right balance of conviction and comic rigidity, which makes him a strong counterpoint to Shumway’s more vulnerable journey.
The story could easily have felt like a skit stretched too long, but creators Leo Schwartz and DC Cathro build more into the premise than one might expect. The characters are fuller than the setup suggests, and the music is both playful and, in places, surprisingly complex. What begins as a joke becomes a real musical comedy with characters we care about.
Director Lance Phillips knows where the laughs are and does not let the show sit too long in any one place. He keeps the pace moving, but he also allows the quieter moments to land. As he showed with Camp Morning Wood, and now with The Book of Merman, Phillips understands camp. More importantly, he understands how to keep camp from sliding into kitsch.
There are still chances to see The Book of Merman, and it is a great summer treat. Palm Springs needs to support summer theater if we want live entertainment that gives people a reason to go out and beat the heat. I, for one, am glad Prism Theater is offering a summer season at a time when many other theaters are dark or presenting smaller one-person shows.
Prism Theater may still be the new kid on the block, but it is quickly carving out a place for LGBTQ+ theater that is fun, fearless, and full of life. Prism now has a permanent downtown home at 391 N. Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, giving the company a real place to grow and giving audiences another reason to support live theater during the summer months. Tickets and show information are available through Prism Theater’s website at psprism.com.
Their next show, Making Porn, runs June 25 through August 2.
About the Author
D. Wesley Spencer, Ph.D , is a writer, actor, director, arts educator, and He is the co-author of Universal Creative Intelligence: How the Arts and Sciences Propel Human Advancement, a book exploring how creative thinking shapes learning, leadership, and human progress.
He teaches communication at College of the Desert. Wesley brings a lifelong passion for theater and storytelling to every review he writes. As a columnist for The Palm Springs Tribune, Wesley covers theater, concerts, film, dining, local talent, and cultural events throughout the Coachella Valley. His reviews are known for their warmth, clarity, and deep respect for the power of the arts and the artists and communities they serve. All rights Reserved
service.to.others.cci@gmail.com