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"Dames at Sea"
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Book and Lyrics by: George Haimsohn and Robin Miller Marquie Theatre Cast: Review of the 11/4/99 performance of "Dames at Sea" The Marquie Theater is a small, intimate theater that really affords the average moviegoer-type a chance to experience the energy that can only be found in live stage. Indeed, you often feel as if the performers are, for a moment, playing directly to you. They get to share in the collective atmosphere, as each song is met with enthusiastic applause and each subtle comedic inflection is acknowledged with hearty laughter. The show is full of the kind of comedy that plays best live, particularly when the players do something purposely out of sync with the music or special effects; like when Dick (Hank Florence) is composing a song on the prop piano and stops to commit the notation to paper, while the real pianist (behind a partition off stage left) continues to play; or when Ruby (Beth Frazier) looks up and says "Why did the sky get so dark?" and the lights above her only dim on the last word; or at the end, when Trixie (Sue Robb), the lone wallflower, tries to catch 3 bouquets at once, falling on her face in the attempt. (I hope she didn't hurt herself!) The audience we were in really responded to these moments. The cast worked very well in the 1930s musical style, showing off their singing and dancing skills. Robin Navlyt's character, Joan, has her song highlights in "Choo Choo Honeymoon," where she does some really cute dancing with Lucky (James Paul Xavier), and "Good Times Are Here To Stay," a spirited number the ensemble uses to close the first act. There is a song for every emotion and dilemma, in true MGM fashion. Joan gets most of the zinger lines, usually directed at Mona (Janice Schuss), delivered with the perfect sidekick-gal feistiness. Robin's character is still chipper and good-hearted despite her meager existance in "The Jungle" of Broadway. She provides good contrast and support for her new friend, Ruby, whom Beth Frazier embues with the squeaky-clean, wide-eyed innocence expected in a girl from Utah. Beth's singing voice is clear and strong, but even she can be outsung by Hank Florence, who strolls through the role of Dick with the deliberate ease and manic energy of a young Danny Kaye, his voice ringing solidly off every wall in the place. A drama coach would use him as an example of "How to project to the BACK of the theater." He, too, brims with wholesome goodness, so he's a perfect match for Ruby. Lucky is sweet and genuine, but not as naive as his pal, Dick. James Paul Xavier is a loveable rascal all the way, even making the words "goil" (girl) and "poil" (pearl) sound natural in the silly-fun number, "Singapore Sue." Joan and the other ladies don shimmering oriental gowns and black wigs to become Sue and her entourage, and we hear some of Robin's vocal versatility as she sings with an oriental flair. Lucky and Joan make a good couple, able to depend upon one another when the going gets rough. Janice Schuss portrays Mona Kent with elegance (she has the stature and grace of a showgirl) and camp, her singing style intended to impart a woman whose opinion of her talents is stronger than the talent itself. The audience howled as she stalked offstage and through the audience towards the kitchen in back, with a prop ladder under one arm, fuming from the news that her name is on the marquee as "Moan Kent." She's giddily tongue-in-cheek in "Pensacola," a beguine love song recalling the flame being rekindled between her and "Kewpie Doll," her pet name for Captain Courageous, commander of the boat Dick & Lucky are stationed on that becomes the stage for opening night. George Peckham manages to pull off dual roles as Harry Hennessy/Captain Courageous with no more than a change of costume and attitude. He plays Hennessy in a way that calls to mind Burgess Meredith, hard and crusty but still a concerned father figure to his charges, and the Captain as a proper seafaring man who's not too old to remember his randy shore leaves with "Consuelo," the name he knew Mona by in his youth. Sue Robb doesn't get many lines as Trixie, but adds extra energy to the dance numbers and, like the others, truly seems to enjoy herself. Other rousing song and dance routines include "Wall Street," "The Echo Waltz," "Raining In My Heart" and the title tune. Whether you are familiar with the story or new to musical theater, you will definitely have a good time going to sea with these dames and dudes. |
Review by Nora Salisbury. Editing and Page by Doreen Mulman. ©1999 Sites by Doreen All Rights Reserved.