Movies by John Waters are always intended to make the audience uncomfortable. This is not a bad thing, but it is his thing. His strength is that he can take a story as old as time, and transform it into something that feels brand new. Great storytellers always have a knack for this; and Waters just uses drag queens and freak show look-a-likes to display it.
Set in his hometown of Baltimore in 1954, "Cry Baby" is the Romeo and Juliet styled love story of Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker, the motorcycle-riding head of the Drapes greasers gang, and pretty blonde "Square" debutante Allison Vernon-Williams, who is set on finding her way to being bad. Allison's grandmother, her square boyfriend, and the local law enforcement conspire to keep them apart, but in the end, love conquers all.
We've seen this archetypal love story before, but the music of Adam Shleslinger (Fountains of Wayne) mixed with the sick and twisted world view work well together on stage, leaving the audience unsettled and entertained at the same time.
Cry Baby the Musical is playing at The La Jolla Playhouse through November 18, 2007.
Visit The La Jolla Playhouse for more information on upcoming San Diego theater performances.
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