Tyler Alan Strand, Carolyn Hogan, Kevin Fannin, and Ceptembre Anthony-Tedesco

The audience for a show like this is a pretty small segment of the population. There are tons of people who like musicals, to be sure, but to get the references in Gerard Alessandrini's parodies, you have to be pretty hip to Broadway of the last 40 years. For this version of Forbidden Broadway no Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Irving Berlin, Frank Loesser, or Cole Porter. Here, you might think Alessandrini, a clever curmudgeon, only finds fault with musicals created since Ethel Merman sang her last Mama Rose.

If you know Les Misérables, the old staging with the turntable, you'll enjoy the spin that Alessandrini puts on it. If you remember Mandy Patinkin as a Broadway ham, not just as an actor on "Homeland," you'll appreciate the song "Somewhat Overindulgent" (sung to the tune of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"). If you think Sondheim peaked with Gypsy, you'll get a kick out of the Into the Woods—era audience sing-along. If you're still wondering what all the fuss was about with Rent, you will probably agree with the song "Seasons of Hype."

But if the names Carol Channing, Jerry Herman, Bebe Neuwirth, Cameron Mackintosh, Chita Rivera (or is it Rita Moreno?), and Bob Fosse mean little or nothing to you, then I'm afraid this is not the show for you. However, I never like to discourage anybody from supporting live theater. You may still enjoy yourself thanks to the exuberance of the performances.

That's really all this show is: four performers singing clever lyrics set to familiar melodies, and changing costumes for every number. There are as many dressers as there are people onstage, and this is one of their few chances to get their names in a review: Kim Fannin, Megan Goethe, Bruce Huff, Liz McMaster, and Tom Pennywise. Job well done. The set by John Hogan is just tinselly strips hanging, but as lit by Sammie Aguilar-Briggs, they are surprising in their versatility. The "Forbidden Broadway" marquee hanging over the piano is perfect.

Loretta Robinson plays the piano tirelessly and the four singers give it their all. Kevin Fannin has a voice that could be on Broadway, as was evidenced last season when he played Jean Valjean; here he gets to parody that same role (and Mandy too). Ceptembre Anthony-Tedesco has a set of pipes, and enthusiasm to spare. Tyler Alan Strand seems to be having fun, and is fun to watch in return. Carolyn Hogan's voice is a little distressing at times, but mostly she's excellent, and she also designed the myriad costumes (has she had any time to sleep in the past month?).

This has all been put together by Art Tedesco, the director. He has gotten good performances from all, and he keeps it moving fast, each half about 40 minutes. My only recommendation is to make sure the piano is not too loud. A few times it drowned out the lyrics, and this show is all about the lyrics. If you only get some of the allusions and put-downs, you should still have a good time—even though there is not one mention of Christmas, or maybe precisely because of that.

Forbidden Broadway's Greatest Hits by Gerard Alessandrini is being presented at the Adobe Theater, 9813 Fourth Street NW (just north of Alameda) in Albuquerque. Through December 28, 2014. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:00. Info at www.adobetheater.org or 505-898-9222.

Photo: George A. Williams

--Dean Yannias