Director Tanner Kelly and a strong local cast keep this silly ’70s spoof afloat at StageDoor.

We’re only halfway through the year, but it may be hard to top StageDoor’s production of Disaster! for silliest show of the year.

And I mean that in a good way.

Once again, Tanner Kelly leads a cast of strong local actors to fill Conifer’s hometown theatre with a high-energy musical comedy. Serving as director and music director, Kelly did exceptionally well casting this one, with Cooper Kaminsky in the center of a large cast to tell the story of a casino boat disaster in the Hudson.

A 2011 spoof of ’70s disaster movies — most notably The Poseidon Adventure with a little Towering Inferno mixed in — Disaster! is unapologetically cheesy with its jokes, sight gags and an appalling array of ’70s AM-radio schlock that shook me to my core. Songs I hadn’t heard since I was in the back seat of my mom’s Dodge Dart on Long Island 50 years ago were brought to life with recorded tracks earnestly sung by the cast.

From the disco schmaltz of “Hot Stuff” kicking off the show to the Bay City Rollers’ embarrassing “Saturday Night” to “Still the One” and “Mockingbird,” almost no moldy-oldie from the polyester pantsuit era was left unsung. Even “Feelings” and “Don’t Cry Out Loud” are in there, for God’s sake.

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As these things go, some of the songs dovetail nicely with the plot while others, maybe not so much. But who cares?

Kaminsky plays oleaginous casino-boat developer Tony Delvecchio with a gleeful mix of sleaze and malice as his corner-cutting and local seismic activity contribute to the unfolding disaster. Andy Ray is great as Ted Scheider, the smarty-pants scientist trying to sound the alarm about an earthquake he’s sure is going to destroy the vessel — oddly named The Barracuda. Tony is nominally attached to jiggly lounge singer Jackie, an excellent Cooper Rae, but his reprehensible character drives her into Ted’s arms as the action heats up and the ship goes down.

Marianne, the obligatory female-journalist-trying-to-make-a-name-for-herself-in-a-man’s-world, is nicely handled and well sung by Brekken Baker. Marianne’s ex, Chad (Gavin Juckette, another strong singer), is coincidentally on board, fueling a second corny lovebird story while he waits tables and she sniffs out the story.

Cooper Rae as Jackie, center, leads the cast of ‘Disaster!’ in a music number. | Photo: Tracy Doty Photography

Deep bench

This production also benefits from a solid lineup of secondary characters and ensemble players. Sarah Holmes is quite funny playing the boy/girl twins of Jackie, teeing up the usual gags with quickly shifted hats as she jumps characters. Isabella Duran is a hoot as Sister Mary Downey — a pious wet blanket harboring a gambling addiction. Jennifer Burnett and Brian Trampler are a joy as Maury and Shirley Winters — a retired couple suffering plenty of cliché old-folks’ problems while promoting the benefits of a longtime commitment.

Driving a lot of laughs as she zooms in and out of scenes is “disco queen” Levora Venora. This is ThurZday in a skimpy dress clutching a tiny dog (puppet) and hoping to strike it big with the slots. A big performer in every way, ThurZday lights up every scene with her shimmying and shaking and hilarious falsetto vocal stings essentially promoting herself.

The whole shebang is well choreographed by Heather Westenskow. It’s not flashy, but with this large a cast the numbers are precise and the cast appeared well rehearsed. There’s even a full-on tap scene because, well, of course there is.

The rough but serviceable set by Biz Schaugaard and Dean Arniotes takes a beating and manages to stay in one piece as the cast careens from scene to scene. Jon Weeks’ lighting is well designed, keeping up with the action and leaving no one in the dark.

Isabella Duran (left) and ThurZday are standouts as Sister Mary Downey and Levora Verona. | Photo: Tracy Doty Photography

Disaster! does veer off the rails a bit — OK, a lot — in the second act. Characters have sea creatures hanging from them, body parts are flying, the plot gets dumber and dumber and Kelly and company throw off any restraint to dig for another laugh or two. That’s fine for a show like this, but some scenes are milked too long looking for that extra giggle. It slows the pace and makes the second act seem longer than it actually is.

Since the show comes in just a little over two hours, it’s not too noticeable. Some of that flab will likely get cleaned up as the excellent cast settles into the run. Given the vintage of the song list, this one certainly holds appeal for older audiences, but I noticed some kids in the crowd laughing uproariously throughout the performance (even if some of the raunchy material may not have been entirely appropriate).

For anyone looking for a solid two hours of nonstop laughs on stage — and you’re not too precious about the source — Disaster! is a perfect way to set the world aside and enjoy the athletic comedy of this plucky cast.