Review: 'The Daddy Machine' @ Celebration Theatre

The unassuming pleasures of "The Daddy Machine" at Celebration Theatre go beyond its kicky staging and deft performers. This sweetly wacky musical, based on Johnny Valentine’s book about two kids with lesbian moms who get more fathers than they counted on from the title device, avoids talking down to children or talking at adults.

"It’s All Good," sings Stonewall (Joe Souza), the family dog, cavorting with his chew toys before designer Alexandra Smith’s set, which sports a festooned cardboard construct of school-pageant ilk. Dance-happy Harry (D.J. Pierce) and science-minded Sue (Kelly Michelle Smith) normally worry about nothing more than Saturday "special pancakes," while Stoney yearns for the unassembled doghouse in the garage. Today, however, all bets are off, and never judge a Kenmore box by its bling.

After nurturing Momma (Jenny Gattone) loses a filling, Home Depot addict Mom (Susannah Lang) rushes her to the dentist, leaving Harry to wonder what it would be like to have a dad. Faster than you can say Dr. Seuss, the Daddy Machine disgorges "Guy Dad" (Terry Ray), wielding a stack of pancakes. While Sue wrestles with the physics of this strange event, upgraded "Cool Dad" (Freddie Lara) appears. To give away more would only lessen the fun.

Director Fracaswell Hyman and choreographer Ameenah Kaplan keep things affably loose, letting the humor, heart and audience-participation turns of Patricia Loughrey’s libretto make their own statement. Under Gerald Sternbach’s assured musical direction, Rayme Sciaroni’s serviceable, William Finn-meets-Joe Raposo score lands with gusto, sold to the hilt by a wholly endearing cast.

Admittedly, it’s children’s theater, with all the textual shorthand and presentational broadness that the genre deploys. Yet well before the finale, "A Little Blessing," the acute cultural point of "Daddy Machine" is inescapable and results in a quietly pertinent, utterly charming family frolic.

-- David C. Nichols

"The Daddy Machine," Celebration Theatre, 7051-B Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturdays. Ends Dec. 20. $20. (323) 957-1884. Running time: 1 hour.

Credit: Efrain Shunior

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