Musical pokes fun at '50 Shades of Grey' - KCTV5

The book 50 Shades of Grey has been the center of controversy, but a production in Kansas City is putting a very different spin on the steamy romance novel.

50 Shades of Grey is an international best seller. The popular series has sold more than 100 million copies, and the movie opens Friday.

In Kansas City people can catch 50 Shades! The Musical Parody at Starlight Theatre that was inspired by the romance novel, but offers a twist.

“What they’re seeing is a silly playful parody of the book brought to life through the eyes of three book club ladies who are reading the book together and it’s sort of how they imagine things to be going on as they read through it,” said Katie Lamark, who plays the character Anastasia Steele.

Diego Klock-Perez plays Ana’s friend Jose. He said when the opportunity to take part in the parody came along, he took it even though he’d never read the book.

“When I heard that I was like ‘Oh 50 Shades of Grey. I guess I’ve seen that tie on the front of a book somewhere. What’s it about?’ And they were like ‘Oh, it’s about sex…,’” he said.

And the musical is about sex. The parody is graphic, risqué and it’s already a hit with both men and women.

“It was great. It was a nice surprise from my husband for a pre-Valentine’s Day gift,” said Grennan Sims, of Lee’s Summit.

“Fantastic!” said Doug Wilson, of Independence, MO. “I loved it. It was fun.”

“It was fun. I was surprised it was quite as graphic as it was but, you know, what do you expect from a book like that?” said Karen Harrison, of Kansas City, MO.

Harrison is a sex therapist. She said her clients have shown an interest in the book these least few years.

“Now it’s actually a part of our culture,” psychiatrist Katie Cole said.

She agrees with Harrison that putting such a light-hearted spin on the taboo topic gives people permission to talk about it publicly. She said, after seeing the parody, she’s ready to read the book herself.

“I haven’t read the book, but I know enough about it, I thought it was very creative and fun,” Cole said.

With 50 Shades! The Musical Parody, it’s the first time Starlight has set a winter stage. It’s located backstage from what most people expect when they go to the theatre’s large open-air auditorium. The indoor portion of the theatre seats about 500 people and 50 Shades! The Musical Parody will help determine whether this this is something Starlight continues.

50 Shades! The Musical Parody runs at Starlight every night this week through Sunday.