Fringe's 'When ET Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' takes itself a bit too seriously

By Stephanie Merry
Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Have you ever gone to a movie that was billed as a campy comedy, say "The Family Stone" -- on Christmas Eve, no less -- only to find that you had been duped into watching a drama about . . . cancer? Then make no mistake about "When ET Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," playing at the Warehouse through Sunday. Despite the goofy title and the out-there premise about an earnest singer in a psych ward and the aliens that love her, this is actually a musical that takes itself pretty darn seriously.

On the plus side, unlike many Fringe productions, "ET" exudes an air of professionalism, right down to the mikes, the multi-page program, nuanced lighting, a capable backing band and the 90-minute running time. There's no question that a lot of work went into this self-proclaimed "sci-fi rock opera."

But when does serious become too serious? In this case, it might be when preachy aliens come to Earth to tell humans how superior extraterrestrials are, and then list our most obvious transgressions: war, starving children and environmental negligence.

The grand aspirations of this musical were sporadically evident. While Randall Holloway, playing a psych-ward patient, turned in a memorable performance, his microphone was set too loud for his soaring voice. And though some songs featured more than a few off-key notes, when the ensemble came together for one final ditty, the result was impressive and catchy. But perhaps most important, this play teaches a valuable lesson, which has nothing to do with the human penchant for destruction: Don't judge a play by its title, especially during Fringe Festival.