Follow Us:

A note from the author

For the last three quarters of the twentieth century, a male pianist/singer performing witty songs and patter became the principal form of café entertainment.  The fact that the vast majority of these performers were and are homosexual, and that their repertoire draws heavily on closeted gay songwriters with a knack for double-entendre naughtiness, was both an obvious but unspoken basis for their unique rapport with the sophisticated, upper crust mainstream. 
Two simultaneous factors contributed to the sudden demise of the songwriting traditions that coincided with the deaths of Cole Porter, Noel Coward, et al.:  the emergence of rock/pop songs, in which the former eloquence and ingenuity of lyrics took the back seat behind “the beat” or “the groove;” and the increased social visibility and acceptability of homosexuality, which relegated the “gay ghetto,” veiled entendre, and “code culture” (such as the identification with Judy Garland and The Wizard Of Oz) to relic status.  
I wrote Miss Gulch Returns! as both an homage and a deconstruction of the sexually dislocated tuxedoed-pianist-singer performance tradition, literally turning his tuxedo (and psyche) inside-out to reveal the outsider to both the “gay ghetto” and the heterosexual mainstream for which he has only, as Coward put it so famously, “a talent to amuse.”  While the archivists blow the dust off of the most trivial nursery-school limericks and eighth alternative choruses of the old songwriters, proclaiming solid gold in every find, I presumed to pick up where the old school was forced to leave off.  I hoped to revive and carry forward, into the now ghetto-less world, a songwriting tradition that should never have gone out of style in the first place, and I’m happy to report that the response to the show has shown that I am not alone in my nostalgia.  
But most importantly, I wrote Miss Gulch as a metaphor for the sexually and romantically alienated across all categories. and it is this aspect of the show not to be overlooked by performers (and, with luck, the critics).  A racy “Pour Me A Man” routinely brings down the house; but within thirty seconds, if the performer can bring the place to complete, uncomfortable silence with “Everyone Worth Taking,” he is truly doing the job.  
 The performer may not have experienced the alienation described by the script, but it’s fundamentally an acting challenge, and a gauntlet thrown to an unsuspecting audience, to play that truth and nothing but the truth – which only makes the hilarity, when it occurs, that much more telling.  
An audience member once paid me my favorite compliment after I performed the show for an audience that was heavily weighted toward the slap-happy types:  “I’ve never seen anyone wear such a ridiculous get-up and yet become so totally naked onstage.”  Wear the get-up, let everyone have their fun, but don’t fail to become totally naked – psychologically, of course – before the curtain falls.  

Cast

Creative Team

Meet the Company

Brett McMahon

Miss Gulch to be/ Miss Gulch

Brett McMahon is originally from Brentwood, CA. Graduated from AMDA Los Angeles. And after a year performing in Cupcake Theater’s Avenue Q ( trekkie, nicky, bears) and Rent (Collins/Mark) he moved to Orlando to jump into the scene. He brought his own cabaret: California Kiki from Hollywood fringe to Orlando, which opened to doors to more opportunities at the Parliament House, Savoy, Orlando Pride, The Abbey and More. You might’ve seen him at the Garden Theatre in JCC (pilates) or Xanadu (Sonny) with Florida Theatrical Association’s Full Monty (Jerry) or Chess (Frederick) or in his own 2021 cabaret We Got Love. After working with Robert Crane and his team of the Gay 90’s Musical (Starlight room) he’s happy to be part of MISS GULCH RETURNS. Brett McMahon transforms into the Entertainess Extraordinaire! Just make sure to “check your preconceptions at the door.”

Kayla Fischl

Bartender

KAYLA FISCHL (Flying Monkey) is grateful to be appearing in the Orlando Fringe for the second year in a row! Past credits: Lead Vocalist (Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and MSC Cruise Line), The Gay 90's Musical (Savoy/Gold Venue 2022), Trillium in The Impossible Club (Green Venue 2021), April in Company at The Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol, Propaganda/Gigolo at The Winter Park Playhouse 1st Annual Festival of New Musicals, A Christmas Story at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, and Real Life Hip Hopperaat Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. MFA Musical Theatre, The Boston Conservatory. BFA Musical Theatre, AMDA LA. Many thanks to Robert and Jamie for this amazing opportunity, Will for his unwavering love and support, and the cast/crew for bringing to life this amazing show. Break legs everyone! www.KaylaFischl.com@KaylaFischl

Robert Crane

Producer/Director

From the Wave Award Winning THE GAY 90’S MUSICAL, which he Co-produced and Directed, Robert is celebrating his 4th decade in the industry having first performed as Winthrop Paroo in THE MUSIC MAN at Kansas City’s Starlight theatre at the ripe old age of 10. Since then he has traveled the country in multiple capacities as Director, Choreographer, Stage Manger, Production Stage Manager and Theater General Manager. Having recently retired from the Entertainment Division of Walt Disney World Resorts, his focus is now on the development of his newly developed WHITE ELEPHANT THEATRE COMPANY. Be sure to visit on Facebook and on it's website! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075109815681 https://whiteelephanttheatre.com/

Julian Bond

Musical Director/Accompanist

Julian Bond is originally from Winchester, England, where he began piano lessons at the age of seven. Over the next decade he undertook studies in several other instruments, as well as composition, and in his twenties he moved to London where he graduated from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama with an honors degree in Music Composition, including specialism in conducting, music production and film scoring. His earlier childhood love of the theatre continued to grow and he maintained involvement in stage and film acting along with his musical career. His piano studies continued in both classical and jazz, and he has performed internationally in both genres. He has been the recipient of many awards, including the European Junior Piano Festival, the EMI "Make Music" composing competition, the Alexander Grotsz Prize for Composition (London) and in 2005 he was ranked as one of the country's top ten young film score composers by Turner Classic Movies, under the auspices of the late Elmer Bernstein. Julian is currently writing music for various ensembles and projects around the country, and his work can be heard on film and television, as well as live worldwide. He has appeared on stage in several venues around Central Florida, and was most recently cast as the uptight hotel manager Barry in Amazon Prime's "Guns For Hire".

Roy Hamlin

Stage Manager

After a 16 year absence, native central Floridian Roy Hamlin returned to Fringe last year to appear with Robert in F*CKING MEN, and is grateful this year for this stage management berth as well as directing the American premiere of the topical 2 man dramedy UNDETECTABLE (Teal Venue). Production work elsewhere includes offBroadway, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, and Vermont (yes, that's alphabetically). Thanks to the whole team and to you for braving the twister.

Divine Grace

Costumer

Multimedia

Multimedia

Please support our sponsors!

Home | LUE DIAZ

HALACIOUS, NATHAN HERSHBERGER

AND MISS JACKSON IF YOU’RE NASTY

The Center Orlando

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bdxc/
SAVOY Orlando - Gay Bar in Orlando

Eric Rollings – Mainframe Real Estate

Enjoy the show? Tip us here!

Support the White Elephant Theatre Company!

PayPal.Me/whiteelephanttheatre

Special Thanks To:

Greg Griffin

Sai Tanghall

Cathie Vodopivc

The Future of The White Elephant Theatre Company

The White Elephant Theatre Company is a newly established 501c3 Not for Profit Corporation. Your ticket purchase this evening will help us to grow in the future. With a planned attainment of our own location we are undergoing a Fund Drive to secure such a space. If you or your company would like to support our efforts, please visit:

PayPal.Me/whiteelephanttheatre

to submit your tax deductible contribution.

Thank your for supporting the arts!