that Simpson’s episode the place Bart sees Planet of the Apes: The Musical. His eyes stretched a mile when he noticed rock tune and wreck dancing with actors in ape costumes? That was once my response to The Ultimate Fit.
Strolling into the Temple Theater in Rochester, NY, I used to be greeted to a complete sized wrestling ring. A rock band was once tuning up. There was once even a pseudo Titantron above the entryway. The hoop proudly marketed International Conflict V.
The display began and we have been requested to cheer, taunt, and scream, whilst taking as many footage as we would have liked. This was once no longer an peculiar Broadway manufacturing. The enthusiastic ref and tremendous fan, performed via Trinity Colvin, informed us about her favourite wrestling match that she would take note perpetually, International Conflict V from the 1989 International Wrestling Alliance. She sang concerning the wonders of professional wrestling within the 80s.
Reduce to the 2 announcers, Scarlett Elegant and Struttin Jimmy Sutton (performed via McKenzie Mitchell and Jeff Seal). They introduced that Ben Vengeance (Anthony Nuccio) were wrestling for thirty years and he was once in a position to retire. His frame had sustained too many accidents and this might be his ultimate fit in opposition to Alex Swagger (performed via Simon Miller). Different suits at the card integrated Sam the Barbarian (James Bull) in opposition to Johnny No person (Brandon Scott), a tag workforce fit with The Surgeon ( Afa Anoa’i Jr.) and Cannonball (Terry Adonis). Ben Vengeance’s spouse The Fabulous Pass over Jenny (Mikayla Agrella) would face off in opposition to The Mom (Mickie James) in her maximum essential fit of the yr.
The mix of rock tune interludes, monologues from The Ref to give an explanation for wrestling phrases to the target market, and vintage 80s wrestling strikes was once a buffet to the senses. Part of me idea “I want wrestling was once actually this scripted…oh wait.” The target market had no hassle cheering for the face and disrespecting the heel. The wrestlers had no hassle insulting the target market or giving top fives to the children. In a single phase two tag-team ladies have been tied up in mat wrestling, when the ref defined that they have been engaged in a violent ballet. The tune modified to a ballet ballad and each actresses carried out a gradual movement jockeying for place ballet.
Within the behind the curtain scenes, wrestlers broke kayfabe and spoke about their courting to the industry. Pass over Jenny was once involved that her husband was once going to get crippled in his ultimate fit. Ben Vengeance determined that he was once going to take two Swagger Daggers from Alex Swagger and that may finish his profession for excellent. Ben sang a ravishing music about how the wrestling business had destroyed his frame, however his love for it saved him going. The Titantron confirmed off animated motion pictures of Ben’s profession.
Alex Swagger was once the heel in the back of the scenes. He believed he deserved to win and that Ben was once an previous has-been. He ridiculed the roster for being not so good as his reputation. He sang a punk music about how superior he was once. The target market booed him continuously. His evil plan was once that he was once going to make an instance of Ben within the ring if he did not get him over.
In the meantime, the whole lot of International Conflict V performed on. The Surgeon had a storyline that he did useless surgical treatment on Cannonball’s sister. Each and every time the faces received over the heels the target market erupted in cheers. Then the scene would cross behind the curtain the place wrestlers would bond over their revel in within the business. The most efficient heel of the evening (but even so Alex Swagger) was once the Mom. Mickie James performed a neglectful drama mama with fifteen youngsters. Her persona was once excessive and her deadly weapon was once the usage of a child.
The songs have been significant. Ben Vengeance sang about his love/hate courting with the business and the way he sought after to bow out of wrestling. Pass over Jenny sang about how she was once torn between her husband’s well-being and advancing her profession. The Ref did a rap music defining each wrestling business time period.
Earlier than the principle match, there was once a gauntlet fit the place actors dressed up as easter eggs to Broadway hits and wrestled for a name. There was once by no means a lifeless second from bell to bell as The Ultimate Fit blended comedy, sports activities leisure, and tune to a super tale. I will be able to’t even say that about some precise Pay-According to-Perspectives.
The finale confirmed the fit between Ben Vengeance and Alex Swagger. The manufacturing invited a Rochester local to assist announce the fit and improvise the colour remark (I additionally heard a rumor that Dalton Citadel did a visitor cameo probably the most nights). The tale was once arrange with a unfastened tie-in to the Montreal Screwjob. On the finish of the finale, the tale paid off and the gang cherished each minute of it.
I’m now questioning why wrestling does not have musical numbers and dramatic montages in them as I believe they paintings so fantastically in combination. I’m totally inspired with the hoop choreography (via James Bull) and the making a song skill. This was once co-produced via Matt Cardona, John Colandra, Michael Tivey, and Ramin Karimloo. It is a exertions of affection that may captivate any wrestling fan or Broadway fanatic.
