SCANDALOUS at the Neil Simon Theatre

(Seen November16, 2012)

Aimee Semple McPherson, a self-proclaimed preacher who conquered the Hollywood elite in the 1920s, is a character who may deserve some tribute in a musical about her life.  But Kathie Lee Gifford, who wrote the book, lyrics, and "additional music", fails to provoke our interest in her by-the-numbers, year-by-year, re-telling of McPherson's story.

And even adding Charlie Chaplin, William Randolph Hearst, and Louella Parsons to her cast of characters, hasn't turned the trick.  Pseudo glitz and glamor do not rescue a failed musical.  The writing is bland and uninteresting, while the music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman is forgettable.

You can't blame the performers when the material isn't substantial enough to catch our interest.  Carolee Carmello does as much as possible to pull it off, but cannot overcome the problems of the show.  The cast is eager and capable of better work.  George Hearn, in his secondary role of Brother Bob, is the only character that seems real and believable.