Cast gives ‘something extra’ in hilarious ‘Pageant’

Six finalists begin the bathing suit portion of the competition during a dress rehearsal for KU's Pageant.

What do you get when you take six cross-dressing men, a few sparkly costumes, an acclaimed off-Broadway director and a fantastic musical score? You wind up with “Pageant,” a very funny (and not-so-typical) look at attitudes toward modern beauty contests.

Co-writer and director Bill Russell has put together a lively show that both lauds and laughs at the inherent glamour and hypocrisy of these arguably out-dated displays of femininity. Yet, never does the acting or direction yield to the common pitfalls of these oft-typecast roles, retaining wonderfully dynamic and human elements throughout.

Tosin Morohunfola glides across the stage as the captivating Frankie Cavalier, emcee for the Miss Glamouresse pageant. The charismatic (and smoothly improvised) dialogue between he and castmate Michael Brandon Ford (the previous Miss Glamouresse) truly brings the audience into the show, a quality desired by Russell and co-writer Frank Kelly.

“Pageant” is designed to let the audience choose the new Miss Glamouresse, and each night can conceivably bring a new winner. Russell chose a cast of incredibly talented actors to play the female contestants in the show, any of whom are deserving of the title.

These young actors sincerely capture the varying qualities of these female characters so well, in fact, that one may forget these beauty queens actually do have “a little something extra.”

Jon Matteson plays the well-mannered Miss Deep South. He displays not only the serene, genteel nature of a Georgia lady, but also an impressive bout of rapid-fire ventriloquism in “A Salute to Dixie.”

In homage to the Lone Star State, Ben Cook taps his way across stage as Miss Texas. His performance of “Texas Tap” and delightful display of nutrient-filled lipstick show why he is an audience favorite.

Robbie Gordy embodies the chaste, yet charming chick from America’s heartland, Miss Bible Belt. His performance of “Bankin’ on Jesus” keeps the audience rolling as they try not to ogle the legs under his gold mini skirt.

Portraying the meek and insecure Miss Great Plains is Spencer Holdren, who captures the comic naivete of this mousey girl, even when clad in ruby slippers and a hay-filled hat during “I Am the Land.”

In fact, the costumes are almost as fun to watch as the men who wear them. Costume designer Delores Ringer created fashions that both flatter the “ladies” and give the audience a peek at what makes these dames so special. The tie-dyed cocoon of Miss West Coast (Brian Ervin) accentuates his ridiculously entertaining performance of “Seven Ages of Me,” a dramatic piece that comments more on Miss West Coast’s birth state than birthday.

This is perhaps the first time that “Pageant” has been performed at a university, and it’s definitely a good fit for the KU stage.