Let Me Be Frank Productions’ ’Brent the Musical’ puts spin on Brett Favre’s reputation
Let Me Be Frank Productions’ ’Brent the Musical’ puts spin on Brett Favre’s reputation
Written by: Warren Gerds
Feeding off crowd enthusiasm on opening night Wednesday, Let Me Be Frank Productions romped through “Brent the Musical,” a new show calculated to lead into Sunday’s visit to Lambeau Field by the Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre.
The musical was inspired by Favre’s habitual fence sitting. Bingo. Favre’s latest episode is in the show, too.
Brent is tempted by a female. His girlfriend asks, “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” he says to her, with an aside “ … yet” for his softball-playing buddies. “I would never stray … that far.”
Let Me Be Frank Productions’ shows always have an in-the-moment feel. This one has the troupe especially on the lookout to play on Favre’s personality and reputation. If something happens in the saga today, it’s likely to make its way into tonight’s show.
“Brent the Musical” works in part because troupe namesake Frank Hermans’ no-holds-barred personality is right for the Brent (Favre) character.
Hermans wrote five songs for the show. They feel like they belong along with the established songs.
The take-my-breath-away voice of Amy Riemer (the girlfriend) helps prove that, first in “Neither One of Us” from Gladys Knight and then in “Play,” a Hermans song in which her character encourages Brent to do what he loves.
As someone who wants to lure Brent from his team, Lisa Andre sparks goofiness from Brent’s sidekicks, played over-the-top by Paul Evansen and Pat Hibbard.
Evansen and Hibbard fill the show with double-entendre meanings.
