Back in 1988, the film version of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown introduced an unsuspecting world to the sexually fluid, Day Glo-colored artistry of Pedro Almodóvar and the new freedom sweeping Spanish artists after decades under dictatorial rule. With its hectic farce driven mostly by its female characters, the movie was ripe for a Broadway musical treatment, which it got about five years ago from David Yazbek and Jeffrey Lane, the team that gave us the musical version of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Now the show comes to Fort Worth for the first time courtesy of Artes de la Rosa.
The story begins with a middle-aged Spanish actress who receives a phone message from her ex-boyfriend Ivan announcing that he’s leaving her for someone else. This kicks off a plot that takes in an international terrorism threat, a batch of sedative-laced gazpacho, Ivan’s insane ex-wife, and a music-loving taxi driver who seems to have everything in the world inside his cab. The musical has received mixed reviews, but we’re sure that the costumes and set design will be something to see. In the meantime, we’re waiting for someone to make a musical out of High Heels or Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown runs Jul 22-Aug 7 at Rose Marine Theater, 1440 N Main St, FW. Tickets are $12-16. Call 817-624-8333.
