Cabaret Scenes Theatre Review - The Drowsy Chaperone

"I just want to be entertained. I mean, isn't that the point?"

As airy as a soufflé and unassuming as Jell-O, The Drowsy Chaperone at the Marriott Marquis Theatre is a love letter to the old-style 1920's musical comedy. This show-within-a-show is good-natured parody narrated by the Man in Chair, played with unassuming charm by co-writer/star Bob Martin. Martin, reminding us of the importance of music and entertainment in life's dark moments, portrays an endearing loner who unabashedly loves musicals – "a few good songs that will take me away."

He offers to share with us his favorite cast album, The Drowsy Chaperone, and puts on the LP. Immediately, his shabby apartment metamorphoses into theatrical flamboyancy. While there is not much of a plot, Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison's song-and-dance score is funny and infectious. Diva Janet Van De Graaff (Sutton Foster) is engaged to suave Robert Martin (Troy Britton Johnson) -- not the Man in Chair, Bob Martin; this is fictional hero, Robert Martin. Faded former star, Beatrice Stockwell (Beth Leavel) is the chaperone, hired to keep an eye on Janet and make sure the wedding goes smoothly. Beatrice is not technically drowsy, just perpetually ossified and easily distracted by the offer of another cocktail.

Problems ensue because Janet plans to quit showbiz after the nuptials, leading her distressed producer, Feldzieg (Lenny Wolpe) to hire two pun-loving gangsters/pastry chefs (Jason Kravits and Garth Kravits) to stop the wedding. Toss into the energetic ensemble Feldzieg's sexy jealous girlfriend, Kitty (Jennifer Smith) and the harried best man, George (Eddie Korbich); also Georgia Engel as a ditzy society matron, Mrs. Tottendale, who has a fling with Underling, her butler (Edward Hibbart). Hyperkinetic Latin lover, Adolpho, played by Danny Burstein, is sent to seduce and distract the chaperone. There is even an aviatrix, Trix, played by Kecia Lewis-Evans.

The Man in Chair, seated stage right, intermittently stops to comment, or the LP needle sticks, causing all stage action to freeze, but then it all comes back to life. Big ensemble numbers like the tap-dancing "Cold Feets," led by Korbich, and the gangster/pastry chef's "recipe," "Toledo Surprise" are outstanding. Sutton Foster plays the narcissistic flapper superstar with brilliant and nimble authority. Her big musical moment, "Show Off," also her "Bride's Lament," are dazzlers, pulling out all stops. Dapper fiancé Johnson has an amusing moment when he roller-skates blindfolded, crooning, "Accident Waiting to Happen," often veering dangerously close to the edge of the stage. Chaperone Beth Leavel, is hilarious with dry impeccably chilled retorts and a song that defines her, "As We Stumble Along." All the performers tend to stumble over-the-top, no one more than Adolpho who delivers a robust "I Am Adolpho."

All these characters and plotlines are deftly kept in motion by director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw. Nicholaw manages to rein in the action, stay the course, and guide the show to a whoop-de-do finale without an intermission. Kudos also for David Gallo's stage/costume design lighted by Gregg Barnes. The set is clever and gorgeous -- when have you seen a refrigerator center stage transformed into an elaborate entranceway? Gallo's swanky costumes are lavish, moving gracefully in the dance numbers.

Bob Martin co-wrote The Drowsy Chaperone with Don McKellar. The show began its journey from Toronto to Broadway as a bachelor party entertainment by McKellar, Lambert and Morrison for Martin and his fiancée, named, yes, Janet Van De Graaff.

The Drowsy Chaperone, mixing theatre's magic with life's nitty-gritty, serves the sparkling champagne of this year's theatre. As the Man in Chair asks, “What more do you need for an evening’s entertainment?”

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
May 5, 2006
www.cabaretscenes.orgElizabeth Ahlfors



	The Drowsy Chaperone Marriott Marquis Theatre New York, NY
"I just want to be entertained. I mean, isn't that the point?" As airy as a soufflé and unassuming as Jell-O, The Drowsy Chaperone at the Marriott Marquis Theatre is a love letter to the old-style 1920's musical comedy. This show-within-a-show is good-natured parody narrated by the Man in Chair, played with unassuming charm by co-writer/star Bob Martin. Martin, reminding us of the importance of music and entertainment in life's dark moments, portrays an endearing loner who unabashedly loves musicals – "a few good songs that will take me away." He offers to share with us his favorite cast album, The Drowsy Chaperone, and puts on the LP. Immediately, his shabby apartment metamorphoses into theatrical flamboyancy. While there is not much of a plot, Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison's song-and-dance score is funny and infectious. Diva Janet Van De Graaff (Sutton Foster) is engaged to suave Robert Martin (Troy Britton Johnson) -- not the Man in Chair, Bob Martin; this is fictional hero, Robert Martin. Faded former star, Beatrice Stockwell (Beth Leavel) is the chaperone, hired to keep an eye on Janet and make sure the wedding goes smoothly. Beatrice is not technically drowsy, just perpetually ossified and easily distracted by the offer of another cocktail. Problems ensue because Janet plans to quit showbiz after the nuptials, leading her distressed producer, Feldzieg (Lenny Wolpe) to hire two pun-loving gangsters/pastry chefs (Jason Kravits and Garth Kravits) to stop the wedding. Toss into the energetic ensemble Feldzieg's sexy jealous girlfriend, Kitty (Jennifer Smith) and the harried best man, George (Eddie Korbich); also Georgia Engel as a ditzy society matron, Mrs. Tottendale, who has a fling with Underling, her butler (Edward Hibbart). Hyperkinetic Latin lover, Adolpho, played by Danny Burstein, is sent to seduce and distract the chaperone. There is even an aviatrix, Trix, played by Kecia Lewis-Evans. The Man in Chair, seated stage right, intermittently stops to comment, or the LP needle sticks, causing all stage action to freeze, but then it all comes back to life. Big ensemble numbers like the tap-dancing "Cold Feets," led by Korbich, and the gangster/pastry chef's "recipe," "Toledo Surprise" are outstanding. Sutton Foster plays the narcissistic flapper superstar with brilliant and nimble authority. Her big musical moment, "Show Off," also her "Bride's Lament," are dazzlers, pulling out all stops. Dapper fiancé Johnson has an amusing moment when he roller-skates blindfolded, crooning, "Accident Waiting to Happen," often veering dangerously close to the edge of the stage. Chaperone Beth Leavel, is hilarious with dry impeccably chilled retorts and a song that defines her, "As We Stumble Along." All the performers tend to stumble over-the-top, no one more than Adolpho who delivers a robust "I Am Adolpho." All these characters and plotlines are deftly kept in motion by director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw. Nicholaw manages to rein in the action, stay the course, and guide the show to a whoop-de-do finale without an intermission. Kudos also for David Gallo's stage/costume design lighted by Gregg Barnes. The set is clever and gorgeous -- when have you seen a refrigerator center stage transformed into an elaborate entranceway? Gallo's swanky costumes are lavish, moving gracefully in the dance numbers. Bob Martin co-wrote The Drowsy Chaperone with Don McKellar. The show began its journey from Toronto to Broadway as a bachelor party entertainment by McKellar, Lambert and Morrison for Martin and his fiancée, named, yes, Janet Van De Graaff. The Drowsy Chaperone, mixing theatre's magic with life's nitty-gritty, serves the sparkling champagne of this year's theatre. As the Man in Chair asks, “What more do you need for an evening’s entertainment?” Elizabeth Ahlfors Cabaret Scenes May 5, 2006 www.cabaretscenes.orgElizabeth Ahlfors

The Drowsy Chaperone

Marriott Marquis Theatre New York, NY

Marriott Marquis Theatre
New York, NY