Written by orange• March 29, 2026• 5:55 pm• Musical, Review, Uncategorized

The Wild Party @ Maverick Theater – Review

photo credit: Jonathan Infante

Written by Patrick Chavis

The Wild Party at the Maverick Theater, March 13 – April 11, 2026.

Truly, a Jazz Age-soaked, theatrical experience is going on right now at the Maverick Theater in Fullerton. The Wild Party is soaked in more than enough Jazz Age/contemporary sounds and love triangle dynamics to thrill F. Scott Fitzgerald fans and the latter. It is only held back by minor direction and performance issues.

Story:

The Wild Party is a musical written by Playwright Andrew Lippa. It’s set in the 1920s and centered a dangerous liaison involving Queenie (Roni Dvir), a very popular and seductive Vaudeville dancer and a very temperamental, vaudeville clown named Burrs (Jeremy Vance). With their relationship on the rocks (shaken, not stirred, of course) the idea of throwing a raging party might be just the ticket to fixing their relationship woes, doesn’t it always (being ironic). Tensions rise further when Mr. Black (Troy Ozuna) can’t seem to keep his eyes off the alluring Queenie. Whatever transpires, it’s definitely going to be a wild party!

photo credit: Jonathan Infante

Immersive/Acting:

Not just a gimmick, the Maverick actors really put in the effort to set the scene even before the show starts. You’re given new names and prepped at the door to make sure you’re not party-crashing. Once you’re let through a real velvet rope, the real party begins. If you don’t want to be bothered by the performers, you are more than welcome to let them know at the door. There are so many people to talk to. Or if libations are your happy spot, it’s hard to miss the bar just past the stage on the other side of the room.

While there wasn’t much time between entering and sitting down to enjoy the show, I had the opportunity to talk briefly with at least three of the characters: Madeline True (Kim Forest), Kate (Natalie Kathleen), and Sam (Josh Martinez), all very interesting encounters that allowed me a little more insight into the characters’ mindsets, particularly, Madeline True, who kept flirting with the person next to me. It’s part of the extended storyline not written in the script. Did Madeline True secure the digits last night? Maybe we will find out in the sequel.

Without a live band, the show uses a well-projected recorded soundtrack in the challenging acoustics of the Maverick. The singers, from what I could tell, largely had mics, which worked for much of the performance, though there were some issues during my performance.

photo credit: Austin Bauman

Choreography/Costumes:

While inconsistencies in singing and acting do show up here and there in this challenging piece, they are nowhere to be found in this very creative and dynamic dance, fight, and movement choreography by Gabriela Morris & Kelsie Blackwell and Fight Choreographers, David Rodriguez & Nathan Makryk. Wow is the word!

The varied 1920s-esque costumes from Kendra Olson do the heavy lifting of bringing you into the era. A lighter approach is taken with the scenic design by Mackenzie Greiner, largely relying on a few vintage pieces, including an older-looking bed set on the stage and a gorgeous porcelain tube.

The use of a white sheet across multiple scenes in this piece was very tastefully executed.

photo credit: Austin Bauman

Roni Dvir has aura for days and a voice that followed suit. Even the mic issue couldn’t stop her.

Dvir and Vance put on an excellent performance of “What Is It About Her?” at the end of the first act.

Vance’s Burr is also strong vocally in this as well, with shocking outbursts reminiscent of Stanley Kowalski from A Streetcar Named Desire.

Kim Forest’s performance, from improved crowd work to a hilarious rendition of the “An Old-Fashioned Love Story,” was right on time and truly a highlight.

Some of the blocking in this made it harder to see.