To be absolutely clear, they’ve haven’t “gone mainstream” nor have they “sold out to the establishment,” but an edgy Dorchester-based band/ performance ensemble is preparing for a month-long run in the heart of the Theater District.
In collaboration with Company One (C1), Boston’s most-admired progressive theater group, Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys (Army of Toys) will star in the New England premiere of the musical “Shockedhead Peter” at the Modern Theatre, a couple of doors down from the Boston Opera House.
“Shockheaded Peter” is a dark cabaret musical written and originally performed by Britain’s Tiger Lillies in 1998. This often-revived show won London’s Tony equivalent, the Olivier Award, in 2002 for “Best Entertainment,” among many other honors. The silly and sinister musical was based on the über-creepy German children’s picture-book “Struwwelpeter,” a collection of ten cautionary tales depicting the dreadful fates of naughty little children who disobey their parents.
C1 was recently named “Boston’s Best Theatre Company” by The Improper Bostonian and “one of the most inspiring and innovative theatre companies on our national landscape” by the American Theatre Wing. C1‘s mission is “to change the face of Boston theatre by uniting the city’s diverse communities through socially provocative performance and the development of civically engaged artists.”
C1 Artistic Director Shawn LaCount says, “We’re so excited to be collaborating once again with Suffolk University and producing in their Modern Theatre. Featuring the SteamCRUNK band Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys, “Shockheaded Peter” is sure to keep you up at night with its unique brand of twisted humor.”
Ashmont’s Walter Sickert is the bandleader and bard of the show; he sings each of the ghastly vignettes as the actors bring them to life on stage. The multitalented Sickert, who also drew the freaky show poster, reveals how these two avant-garde Boston groups came together. “We’d seen several Company One shows and loved their philosophy of art making, which is similar to ours in that we love collaboration and community involvement. When they told us they wanted to put this musical on, we couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough!”
Sickert re-orchestrated the entire score to accommodate his own unique raspy voice recalling, “I listened to the Tiger Lillies soundtrack over and over again in a darkened room imagining how each song fit into the vernacular of the show. Being a seven-piece band (as opposed to a three-piece like the Tiger Lillies) gave me a chance to explore orchestrations and interactions within the original structure of each song that made the music something that honors the original but explores many themes within our Army of Toys SteamCRUNK aesthetic.”
Edrie, Army of Toys accordion-playing mistress of mayhem, reports: “The other Dot resident aside from Walter and myself is Alexandria Danielle King, who has the role of MC and leads the audience through the musical (think a more devilish “Our Town” narrator).” King received her BA in drama from Tufts University and studied with The Moscow Arts Theatre School.
The Reporter asked Edrie and Sickert to advise parents as to whether this show is suitable for their offspring. Their reply was simple: “We’re bringing ours to the show!”
Performances, directed by Steven Bogart, are March 6 – April 4 at the Suffolk University Modern Theatre (525 Washington St., Boston). Tickets are on sale now at companyone.org
