CALL ME MADAM AT 42ND STREET MOON STARS KLEA BLACKHURST

Klea Blackhurst as "The Hostess With the Mostess"

CALL ME MADAM, Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crousse, directed by Dyan McBride, musical director Dave Dobrusky. 42nd Street Moon at the Eureka Theatre: 215 Jackson Street, between Battery & Front. 415-255-8207 or www.42ndstreetmoon.org September 23 –October 18, 2009

CALL ME MADAM AT 42^ND STREET MOON STARS KLEA BLACKHURST

NOTE: 42nd Street Moon, based in San Francisco, is one of a handful of companies in the United States whose mission is to present rarely-seen musicals from the classic Broadway era of the 1910s - 1970s. Initially the shows were semi-staged concert versions. Now the shows are staged performances without elaborate sets but are fully costumed with choreography.

For their opening performance of their 2009-2010 season 42^nd Street Moon has selected the 1950 Call Me Madam that ran for 644 performances on Broadway starring Ethel Merman as politically inept Mrs. Sally Adams, U.S. Ambassador to the tiny mythical Lichtenburg. Elaine Stritch played the part on its national tour. Those are tough cookies to follow but international cabaret/concert star Klea Blackhurst burst onto the stage belting her opening number “The Hostess With The Mostess” captivating the audience as she takes charge. Her voice and delivery is very reminiscent of Merman and that’s good.

As a musical satirical spoof of politics and foreign affairs it seems as cogent today as it was in 1950 when President Harry Truman appointed Perle Mesta, a Washington socialite and fabulous party giver, as Ambassador to Luxembourg. Our widowed Mrs. Sally Adams is of that ilk and she barges into Lichtenberg with Kenneth Gibson (Charlie Levy) her politically adroit but nerdy secretary in tow. As Eros would have it, she falls for Cosmo (Rob Hatzenbeller) their Foreign Ambassabor and Kenneth flips for Princess Maria (Gina DeGeiso). Both are theoretically off-limits, but that is the stuff that musical comedy made of.( Pardon the preposition)

There just happens to be a political angle that might require the U.S. to give money to the impoverished country “Too small to be a city, to big to be a town, too poor to have an army but they manage to play the game.” There are loads of Irving Berlin’s landmark lyrics and Klea has a ball with the “money, money, money” lines from “Can You Use Any Money Today” demonstrating America’s approach to foreign affairs. That should be enough of the plot to whet your appetite for a visit to the Eureka Theatre.

The music is a combination of bright, sassy, lively and lovely which leads to a big applause for DeGeiso and Levy for “It’s a Lovely Day Today.” Blackhurst and Hatzenbeller match the youngsters with the plaintive “The Best Thing for You” (would be me). The songs keep coming and are a joy to hear since ALL the singers are in excellent voice. The songs include”Marrying for Love”, “The Ocarina”, “Something to Dance About” and “Once Upon a Time Today.”Scarlett Hepworth, DC Scarpelli and John-Elliot Kirk as members of Congress have a semi-showstopper with “”They Like Ike.”

That brings us to the production numbers with Jayne Zaban’s perky first act choreography beginning with the opening number, carried on with “Washington Square Dance” and three charming lassies in an inventive touch as wind up dolls doing “The Ocarina.” In act two, there really is “Something to Dance About.” Costumes by Louise Jarmilowicz add a touch of pizzaz to the evening. Not to be forgotten is the music provided by reliable Dave Dobrusky with Nick DiScala doing yeoman service playing reeds (and the ocarina) adding depth to the score.

The many lesser roles deserve accolades since they add verve, humor and joy to the show, but it is Klea Blackhurst’s singing and stage presence that grabs the brass ring.

Highly recommended with running time of a pleasurable 2 hours plus that will leave you humming many of the tunes.

Kedar K. Adour.

Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com