San Francisco Bay Guardian
Review by Robert Avila
Ask the man behind the curtain, or the heatstroke victim in the dog suit: at Disneyland, not seeing is believing. Hence, you may not believe your ears (or Pluto's) on this unofficial guided tour behind the scenes of the nation's theme park—"amusement" park doesn't do justice to America's mythical-mechanical self image, repressed warts and all. On the other hand, Trevor Allen's reprise of his nifty 2002 solo show can with justice be called amusing, skillful, and contagiously warmhearted. This last aspect is perhaps the biggest surprise. The Bay Area actor-playwright recounts three years spent as a part-time cast member in Anaheim, after all—a.k.a. "the happiest place on earth"?—working his way up the side of a bleak and humorless corporate Matterhorn, a never-never land to anything smacking of progressive social engineering. But for all its passing digs at Disney, Allen's slyly unassuming coming-of-age story prefers to celebrate the characters behind the characters: his fellow workers young and old, stoned and misshapen, or, like Snow White, just dangerously cute. C is for "See it real soon." Y? Because it closes this weekend.
December 10, 2003
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“The man behind the mask: Disneyland not so magic for people in the furry suits”
Profile by Chad Jones for the Oakland Tribune
“It's a Small Job After All: Trevor Allen uncovers Disneyland with warmth, style, and tremendous humor”
Review by Lisa Drostova for the East Bay Express
“Sensitive Trevor Allen came of age at ‘the happiest place on earth.’ He tells his story in the thoroughly engaging Working for the Mouse onstage at the Exit Theatre”
Review by Leslie Katz for the San Francisco Examiner
“Who fucked Dick Tracy on the Matterhorn? Find out in this sad, sordid Disneyland memoir”
Review by Michael Scott Moore for the SF Weekly
“Trevor Allen recounts his stint as a costumed character at Disneyland in his solo show Working for the Mouse”
Review by James Sullivan for the San Francisco Chronicle