By Kevin Zimmerman
Queens’ al fresco theatrical season wraps up Sunday when Theater for the New City rolls into Travers Park with its original street operetta “Emergency!!! or The World Takes a Selfie.”
The story of a brash young EMT, Billy, who sets out to save New York his way instead of following departmental protocol, includes a cast of 30 actors and eight new songs performed by a five-piece orchestra. And it all comes to Jackson Heights free of charge.
“We are inspired by the original street theater, which was very political,” said Crystal Field, artistic director for TNC. “We are inspired by the original guerilla theater, but we get all the permits we need.”
Field, who directs the show, wrote the book and lyrics — Joseph Vernon Banks penned the music and leads the orchestra — and also steps into a small role.
In “Emergency!!!” the hero played by Justin Rodriguez constantly clashes with his commander played by Michael David Gordon. The commander, who misses the action of the field, gripes about the youth of today and their lack of substance, said Field. All they seem to want to do is take photographs of themselves with their smart phones and post the pictures to the Internet.
Naturally, that leads to the cast breaking out in song.
“There’s a big production number called ‘Let Me Take a Selfie,’” Field said.
As the 85-minute show progresses, Billy flaunts the rules — at one point he takes a patient to Elmhurst Hospital rather than a closer site because she asked to go there — and finds himself deeper and deeper in trouble with his boss.
After disrupting an adult evening class to deliver a very pregnant student’s baby, the commander suspends the hero.
And that’s when things start to get crazy, said Field.
Somehow Billy is transported to an Alice-through-the-looking-glass-reality that puts him in a vaudevillian act with a zany doctor and nurse, played by Field.
Then he shows up at a World Cup soccer tournament complete with actors in native costumes performing traditional songs and dances.
This is followed in quick succession by a crew of zombies, a Barack Obama on stilts and a good-old fashioned food fight.
Things wrap up rather nicely when a menagerie of singing animals appears to serenade the crowd with a tune about global warming.
“That’s really the only serious song in the show,” said Field. “It’s serious but is a nice romantic song.”
Cast members include about a half dozen Actors Equity members along with a slew of non-union performers, who range in age from 9 to senior citizens. And the show is family-friendly and always a hit with children, Field said.
This weekend’s performance represents the sixth year Theater for the New City has decamped in Jackson Heights. When she received the initial invitation, Field jumped at the chance to bring her show to the place in which she grew up.
Field and company stage about three dozen performances a year at their home theater in Manhattan. The traveling outdoor production hits all five boroughs during the summer months.
“Some places we go, this is the highlight of the season in the neighborhood,” said Field. “We expect a very good audience in Jackson Heights.”
If you Go
“Emergency!!! or The World Takes a Selfie”
When: Sunday, Aug. 24, at 2 pm
Where: Travers Park, 34th Avenue between 77th and 78th streets, Jackson Heights
Cost: Free
Website: www.theaterforthenewcity.net
