Tom Lehrer may not be the most prolific of satirical songwriters, but he is one of the most beloved. Known for a series of hilariously off–center songs he wrote and performed in the 1950s and 60s, his work has remained popular throughout the decades due to incisive wit and observational brilliance. Artists such as “Weird Al” Yankovic continue to cite Lehrer as an inspiration, nearly a half–century after his retirement from performing.
Toledo actor and director Bill Quinlan was influenced by Lehrer’s work while growing up in San Francisco in the 1960s. Quinlan now brings the songs to a whole new audience in a production of the Lehrer musical revue “Tomfoolery,” playing at the Village Players’ Upton Avenue Theatre, beginning May 6.
“I absolutely love his music, his irreverence and his genius sense of humor. No one could touch him. Lehrer breathes rarified air, as both a musician and satirist,” says Quinlan.
No brainer
Quinlan has plenty of experience bringing shows with a humorous bent to local audiences. Most recently, he directed productions of “Monty Python’s Spamalot” and “Shrek, The Musical” for the Oregon Community Theater. When the Village Players’ Board of Directors approached him about directing “Tomfoolery,” he says it was a “no- brainer.”
“It’s always more fun and more challenging to be involved with a project that I am interested in, and I’m definitely a fan of Tom Lehrer,” Quinlan said.
The show, originally created and produced by Cameron Mackintosh, is a revue of over 20 of Lehrer’s most beloved and hilarious works. From the nuclear–proliferation anthem “Who’s Next” to the environmental ballad “Pollution,” the songs are as stinging and insightful as they were the day they were written.
Unique and different
Quinlan said he could not have asked for a more talented group to bring the show to life than –actors Heidi Fern Clausius, Laura Crawford, Lane Hakel, Robert Holdren and Jill Reinstein.
“I’m not sure I’ve laughed this hard during a rehearsal before,” Quinlan said. “I introduce a lot of unique and different elements to this show, and this cast has been wonderfully open and responsive to my direction.
“There is no one quite like Tom Lehrer, and I know that I have a deeper appreciation for his talent and genius now, having worked on this show. I hope that [the audience] will carry some of that appreciation with them as well.”
Friday, May 6-Saturday, May 21
$20/adults | $18/seniors (ages 60+) and students with a valid ID.
The Village Players Theatre | 2740 Upton Ave.
419-472-6817 | thevillageplayers.org
