Theater review: ‘Octomom the Musical’ at Fake Gallery

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It was only a matter of time before the exploits of Nadya Suleman trickled down to that most lowly of entertainment forms, live theater. Now “Octomom the Musical” has appeared at the Fake Theatre with all the savage vitriol of a warm baby formula. Incredibly, this low-budget cabaret leaves you with the desolating sensation that this unholy mother of 14 is too stupefying even for satire.

Actor Chris Voltaire, who wrote the book and lyrics, directs, and appears as a Frankenstein-like fertility doctor, has a certain demented charm. But a subject this overexposed needs a point of view more surprising than TMZ’s.

Voltaire starts to frame a rivalry between Octomom (an enjoyably self-involved Molly McCook) and her nemesis/role model Angelina Jolie (Alexandra Holtzman), but their trash talk is disappointingly tame. Too bad. Despite the ensemble’s efforts to please, the inclusion of a Bernie Madoff type (John Combs) who tells us what we already know just takes the evening even further afield.

A longer gestation period might help but right now, “Octomom” isn’t quite ready for delivery.

-- Charlotte Stoudt

“Octomom the Musical,” Fake Gallery, 4319 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. 8 and 10 p.m. Saturdays. Ends Aug. 15. $19.99-$29.99. (323) 856-1168. Running time: 65 minutes.