Photo by John Horan
"The Drowsy Chaperone" at Playhouse on the Square: Carla McDonald as The Drowsy Chaperone (left) and Jenny Lynn Christoffersen as Janet Van Der Graaff.
“The Drowsy Chaperone” may seem like an odd choice for the opening musical of Playhouse on the Square’s 2010-11 season. Coming on the heels of the teased-up, tricked out blockbuster “Hairspray,” the current title sounds quirky at best and, for those who know nothing about it, frumpily esoteric.
A moderately funny, but not overly memorable Broadway tour didn’t make a strong case for its revival on the local level. But Playhouse actors loved the show (it’s a theater thing), and their giddy excitement is palpable with every comic mug to the audience. Turns out, “The Drowsy Chaperone” is a marvelous season opener. Get past the deceptively dull title and you’re in for a nonstop, hilarious evening of musical mayhem.
Photo by John Horan
"The Drowsy Chaperone" at Playhouse on the Square: Carla McDonald as The Drowsy Chaperone (left) and Jenny Lynn Christoffersen as Janet Van Der Graaff.
It starts with a man in an armchair inviting the audience to listen while he plays the cast album of a long-forgotten 1928 musical called “The Drowsy Chaperone.” He says that it helps take the edge off those “blue” days.
What erupts from the old record player is a madcap living-room revival, full of zany ethnic stereotypes, an absurdly thin plot line, and tunes that recall the wit of Irving Berlin and George and Ira Gershwin, except on a comically B-grade level.
Playhouse’s “Drowsy Chaperone” is pure energy from start to finish. There’s nothing drowsy about it. The entire cast is made up of bona fide scene-chewers, and in this musical it’s more than just welcome; it’s required.
Michael Gravois (“Red, Hot & Tuna“) plays the Man in the Chair, a frumpy, middle-aged recluse whose collection of musical theater cast albums helps him stave off loneliness.
Gravois settles the audience into his spartan apartment with a monologue that speaks to theater-lovers. He complains about cell phones and actors who come into the audience, among other peeves.
Suddenly, his home is infested with the quirky roarin’ twenties cast of “The Drowsy Chaperone.” With music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a Tony-winning book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, the show is both a tribute to and a spoof of early Broadway. The ensemble, directed by Dave Landis and choreographed by Jordan Nichols, captures the on-stage rivalries and thimble-deep melodrama of the musical-within-a-musical.
Diva extraordinaire Carla McDonald threatens to steal every scene as the titular Chaperone (drowsy is a ’20s euphemism for drunk). She careens around the stage with rousing anthems, boozy bon mots (“Keep your eyeball on the highball!”) and a feathered black hat that looks as though a cockatiel has flown into a windshield.
The chaperone’s sole duty is to keep Janet Van Der Graaff, a wealthy young film star played by Jenny Lynn Christoffersen, out of trouble before she marries the dashing Robert Martin (Nick Echols). But Robert creates trouble of his own — blindfolding himself so as not to accidentally see his bride before the ceremony.
As the Man in the Chair notes: “That’s essentially the plot.”
“The Drowsy Chaperone” assembles the wackiest stock characters and gags of the era. Among them: a Laurel and Hardy team of gangers (Matt Reed and John Hemphill), a politically incorrect Latin Lothario (Kyle Huey), and a dizzy chorus girl (Laura Stracko.)
As the butler, Underling, David Foster suffers the indignity of multiple spit takes from the dotty Mrs. Tottendale (Irene Crist).
It’s not hard to figure out why the folks at Playhouse wanted to put on this show. “The Drowsy Chaperone” reminds audiences why musical theater is important: it lifts the spirit. And this production lifts the title itself, from a somewhat obscure contemporary musical to a must-see night of outrageous comedy.
“The Drowsy Chaperone”
The play continues at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 5 at Playhouse on the Square, 66 South Cooper. Tickets are $38 adults, $20 seniors and students, $15 children. Call 726-4656.
- |
Comments » 0
Be the first to post a comment!
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.