Spies Are Forever

"Spies Are Forever" is a loving spoof of Cold War-era double agent flicks -- James Bond's adventures in particular (the title should be a hint in that direction). It's silly, buoyant, rousing and so funny you'll laugh out loud. It's a reminder how thrilling a night at the theater can be.

Curt Mega plays Curt Mega (it's so meta), a bumbling awkward buffoon of an undercover agent. When he loses his partner in a sting gone wrong, he spirals into the bottle, losing himself in alcoholism. When he has the opportunity for redemption years later, he gets involved in double- and triple-crossing, a gorgeous femme fatale and a Nazi left over from World War II, and he finds the fate of the world hanging in his shaking hands.

Director Corey Lubowich keeps the energy at full speed the entire time. The plot moves at a breakneck pace, only pausing to gift us fantastic song and dance routines. Every single person in the cast is top-notch. Mega (the performer, not the character) plays Mega as a hunky, goober of a straight man as wackiness and insanity swirl around him.

Every person in the ensemble -- Al Fallick, Lauren Lopez (who also choreographs!), Tessa Netting, Joey Richter, Brian Rosenthal, Joseph Walker and Mary Kate Wiles -- gets many chances to shine, playing not just "the maid" or "the barkeep" but a variety of full-fledged characters who get their own stories, personalities and songs. They're remarkably versatile.

The book by the Tin Can Brothers (Rosenthal, Richter and Lubowich) is clever, witty and pointed but never in a mean-spirited way. They clearly have affection for these spy thrillers and know them inside out in order to be able to upend the tropes so smartly.

The music and lyrics by TalkFine (Clark Baxtresser and Pierce Siebers) is exuberant and infectious. It gets the tenor of the story perfectly, accentuating it beat for beat. There's not a flat song. The parody doesn't take anything away from the richness of the musicality. It's just screaming for an original cast recording.

Standouts are "Somebody's Gotta Do It," a sexy duet between Sergio and the Deadliest Man Alive (yes, that's his name); the exhilarating "Eyes on the Prize," by the foul-mouthed Cynthia (Lopez), Mega's boss; the amusing "One More Shot;" the inspiring "Pay Attention! (Barb's Lament)" by Barb (the Q role, played by Netting) and company; and the cheeky "Not So Bad." I realize I've listed five songs as standouts, but it was hard to winnow them down to just those five. The score and songwriting are spot on. There's just not a single misstep.

The band, playing in a loft above the stage and comprised of Baxtresser on keyboard, Siebers on synth, Will Wu on guitar and bass, and Ben Masters on drums, is tight and on point. It helps they've got such fantastic material to bring to life, because this is destined to be a sensation in a bigger venue. It's ready to take off Broadway by storm. It's over the top, crazy, robust, silly and it all works -- the comedy, the story, the music. You're going to want to go mega for Curt Mega and the world he lives in.

"Spies Are Forever" runs through April 3 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601. For tickets or information, call 800-838-3006 or visit spiesareforever.diamonds