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When the survivors of terrorism-induced nuclear apocalypse and/or catastrophic ecocide limp out of their makeshift underground bunkers and turn wearily to each other as if to ask, Is this life worth living?, one of them might openly wonder if our problems started with the Kardashians. Now nearly a decade old, the reality-TV abomination Keeping Up with the Kardashians has transformed a wealthy clan of curvaceous, helium-voiced Californians into global icons of vapid, self-obsessed triviality. The gutting of the American soul and the carpet-bombing of its mind have been made infinitely easier thanks to this hellspawn series and incessant coverage of it by a giddily moronic media. And no, of course I’ve never seen the show.
With the advent of Katdashians! Break the Musical! I super don’t need to see it. An unauthorized musical parody that takes swipes at both Kim, Khloe, et al. and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats (returning to Broadway in July), the show imagines the famous family as singing and dancing felines. Sure. Why not? Created by the same trash-culture recyclers behind Full House! The Musical; Bayside! The Saved by the Bell Musical; and Showgirls! The Musical and produced by National Lampoon, this tuneful hairball opens downtown at Theatre 80 and plays eight shows through June 4.
The run is nearly sold out, so get your tickets now. But if you can’t make it, not to worry, co-writer and producer Tobly McSmith says that due to high demand, they are transferring Katdashians! to the Elektra Theater starting June 16, running through July 17. Tickets for the midtown run ($25–$45) can be bought here. It’s bound to be a rowdy scene; audiences have been warned that “photography and selfies by the audience will be mandatory during the show.” We've already forfeited our right as a culture to survive; why not have a good laugh as it all burns down?