42nd STREET: The Lullaby of Broadway. Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics by Al Dubin, Book by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble. Director Jennifer Denison Perry, Musical Director Ken Bergmann. Contra Costa Musical Theatre (CCMT) at the LesherCenter for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. 925-210-0268 or www.ccmt.org.
Runs through November 8, 2008.
HAPPY FEET, GREAT MUSIC & ENERGETIC CAST = FUN EVENING
Many will be disappointed after the Presidential election but no one will be disappointed when attending CCMT’s production of “42nd Street. The Lullaby of Broadway.” Sure, the story of a small town girl named Peggy Sawyer (Courtney Iventosch) who becomes an unlikely “Star!” on Broadway is as corny as one can contemplate. But that’s part of the fun. And fun it is from the opening with Andy (Martin Newton) leading the tap dance audition number before Billy (dulcet voiced Jason Hite)swings into Young and Healthy with Peggy to introduce the love angle. Almost immediately, the hilarious, satiric Shadow Waltz brings on fading star Dorothy Brock(Terry Darcy D’Emidio), her sugar-daddy Abner Dillion (Mathew Gracy) and comedienne Maggie (Heidi Schmidt). This first scene that sets the pace for the rest of the show which zings along making the two hour running time proof of Henri Bergson’s concept of relative time. . . “Time flies when you’re having fun.”
The story is based on the 1933 movie taken from a novel by Bradford Ropes and converted into the musical, first produced on Broadway in 1980, winning the Tony Award for best musical. Its London production became a long running hit. The marvelous songs that the present generation might consider archaic, actually are pure delight and you will catch yourself humming the melody as you leave the theater. They include You’re Getting to be a Habit with Me, We’re in the Money, Lullaby of Broadway, About a Quarter to Nine and Shuffle Off to Buffalo. The frequently revived show is a perfect vehicle for community-based theatre giving local talent a chance to show their stuff. CCMT has gathered a professional cast for the major roles and a bevy of beauties that tap dance up a storm with their male counterparts.
Added to all this is the freely moving artistic sets designed by Kelly Tighe that allow the show to flow through manyscene changes and a colorful collection of costumes selected by Melissa Patterson. The eye-popping production number with the girls sashaying on a runway extending around the orchestra while Jason Hite belts out the song Dames will bring back memories of the Ziegfeld Follies. Busby Berkely style We’re in the Money song and dance is the first show stopper.
Collectively, all are great singers and individual accolades need to be awarded. Iventosch, as Peggy, conveys innocence and determination and makes the audience burst into applause as the true “Star!” in the 42nd Street Ballet finale. Smooth, sultry, sexy songstress D’Emidio is the perfect opposite of Peggy. Hiedi Schmidt knows how to belt a song and is in full command of comedic timing. Scott Strain and Amy Nielson, with Maggie and the girls are showstoppers with Shuffle Off toBuffalo. Jason Hite could project a bit more worldliness for his role as Billy but receives 3 stars out of 4 for his singing. Tom Reardon as Julia Marsh, the tough task master producer, has to wait late into the show to demonstrate his rich baritone voice and command of the stage.
Do go and allow the 26-member cast to lift up your spirits.
