Theatre Review
The Drowsy Chaperone
Bankhead Theatre - Livermore, CA
Reviewed By = Mauricio Segura
What can I possibly say about Tri-Valley Rep's production of The Drowsy Chaperone? It's got a crazy and cheesy storyline, the lyrics are terrible, and its full of over the top acting, however... It's the best, funniest, and most entertaining musical I have seen in years! I, along with the entire audience, did not stop laughing from beginning to end! Yes its cheesy, yes the lyrics are crazy, and yes the acting is over the top, but it all works in such brilliant harmony that one can't help but be consumed in this circus of comedic audacity.
This winner of five well deserved Tony Awards including Best Musical of 2006, takes place in the living room of an agoraphobic Broadway fanatic known simply as The Man in the Chair. He's feeling nostalgic and has a case of the blues, so he decides to take out and play the record of his favorite musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. He narrates throughout, as the entire musical comes to life through his imagination.
Janet van de Graffe is a Broadway star set to be married to oil tycoon Robert Martin and leave her celebrity life behind. No one in her professional world wants her to marry and quit show business, especially the show producer Feldzieg, who's got two mafia “bakery” goons threatening him at every turn if she leaves his money making Broadway hit. Throw in mistaken identities, dream sequences, spit takes, tap dancing, hula hoops, airplanes, a hilarious Latin lover named Aldolpho, and a tipsy Broadway diva serving as the chaperone, and you get an hour and forty-five minute tsunami of sidesplitting pandemonium.
Ron Lytle who plays the man in the chair does an amazing job at grabbing the audiences attention from the very beginning. He plays a character very reminiscent to a middle aged version of Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory, only more entertaining, funnier, and flamboyant. The way he interacts with the audience, his mannerisms, delivery of lines, and overall delightful persona, makes him instantly likable. He's a finely tuned comedic prowess and the runaway star of the show!
Catherine Williamson (Janet van de Graffe) went above and beyond my expectations. Read my interview with her in our January issue (http://gbmmonthly.us/jan_14_cover.htm). Aside from having one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard, she's an equally entertaining actress and dancer. The numerous physical exertions of her part as Janet throughout the performance, all the while still hitting perfectly pitched high notes with a smile on her face, defines what a truly talented and dedicated actress should aspire to be. This young woman, like the character she portrays, is a star!
The gangsters, Justin Isla and Daniel Quesada are fun to watch. Major kudos for almost perfecting the Bronxonian accent! Alexis Rogers as the Drowsy Chaperone has an amazing voice and great in bringing out the diva of her character. Marty Newton (George) and Ryan Cowles' (Robert Martin) tap dancing number is stupendous! Belinda Maloney as Mrs. Tottendale and Scott Maraj as Underling in the Ice water bit is magical! The rest of the cast and ensemble are all equally entertaining.
And then there is Aldolpho! Played marvelously by Alex Orenberg. This character of a Latin Lover is the personification of all the Hollywood stereotypical lovers, good and bad (mostly bad), mixed into one final mold with strawberry and meatball sauce (Don't ask, I have no idea what that means either, but once you see the performance you will agree there is no other way to describe it), which becomes Aldolpho! His ego leaves little room for the rest of his brain to function, so he compensates in other ways. An unforgettable character in any show, but makes a huge hilarious dent in this one.
In all, it's a win win with the Drowsy Chaperone. The sets and costumes are great, the choreography and music will have you enthralled, and the talent on stage is delectable. Head on out this weekend and check it out. It's this winters must see production!
Rating = 4 out of 5 Golden Bridges
Title = The Drowsy Chaperone
Title = The Drowsy Chaperone
Genre = Musical
Theater/City = Bankhead Theater / 2400 First Street, Livermore, CA
Contact Phone = (925)-373-6800
Production Dates = Now through February 1, 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment