THUG TUNNEL

Original musicals are one of the most difficult things to write and in the case of Hollywood Fringe, sometimes just as difficult to sit through. This is because often writers simply are not aware of the intricacies involved in writing a good musical—this is a especially a challenge in L.A. What you often get here are half-baked stories and clichéd music, however, this is not the case for Robot Teammate & The Accidental Party’s collaborative musical Thug Tunnel. With this show only one word comes to mind: “FRESH”. CLICK 'Original Article' FOR FULL REVIEW ON TIN PAN L.A.... full review

Under the musical direction of composer Sam Johnides, the band sounds great, and Kat Primeau’s lively choreography helps to put the songs across. The book and lyrics were developed collaboratively by the entire ensemble, but it all fits neatly together as a unified piece.... full review

Somewhere in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic unspecified location, a tunnel deep inside the earth is home to a small community of scavengers. Also as a guy who talks to a rat. This is the world that Thug Tunnel, Robot Teammate And The Accidental Party’s newest musical, takes place. Oh yes, it’s a musical. And a very good one. The score, by Sam Johnides, borrows from a multitude of genres including new wave, indie and operatic rock. Johnides likes to fall back on his deep, haunting minor chord progressions that we heard in Timeheart and Annabella, but no one’s complaining. A live band (which includes a keytar!) on stage performs with flawless passion. Using electronic instruments and a drum pad instead of a drum kit was a wise decision, as i... full review

Thug Tunnel’s improv roots serve it exceedingly well. Comedians – especially those skilled in improvisation – approach comedy and comic timing differently than other actors do. Here the technique results not only in a show that is smart but exceptionally appealing as well. It’s a great example of what wild imagination, a commitment to getting a little down and dirty, and reveling in the joy of the art itself, can do. If you want to understand the kind of funny becoming more and more in demand today or to attract a younger audience, this show is a great example of what works. Directors Molly Dworsky and Dave Reynolds set the tone in the very first comic ensemble number and then follow through over and over again. Kat Primeau’s choreography... full review

two thumbs up - a Fringe MUST-SEE!!!... full review

For all it's post-apocalyptic stabbing and rat-eating, the biggest surprise about Thug Tunnel is what a classically-structured, well-made musical it is. The 80s-style score is bouncy, fun, and semi-annoyingly still in my head. And while the book needs some tweaking, this actually feels like it could be an even longer piece. The cast plays their parts to the hilt- it seems unfair to single out anyone, though how could you not give a shoutout to Stabby Rick? Dave Reynolds has a Jack Black energy with a style all his own, and luckily his costars are equally adept. [A minor note, since they requested feedback- it seemed people had lived below ground for generations, yet a young character named Yogurt Stew confusingly has a monologue about life ... full review