Playing at CenterStage in the Reston Community Center, The Drowsy Chaperoneis a hilarious show-within-a-show which operates as a sad-sack musical theatre buff pays loving homage to make-believe jazz-age musicals from the era of pure escapist entertainment – when prohibition was the law of the land, liquor flowed like water, showgirls reigned, and gangsters were a dime a dozen.
Bursting with energy, humor, and stereotypical characters, Reston Community Player’s production of the ‘musical-within-a-comedy’ left the audience and me laughing out loud before the stage lights even went up, and continued until the lights went down.
Front l to r: Danny Mckay as Robert, Colleen Arnold as Janet, and Buz Gibson as Feldzieg. Back: Malinda Markland as Kitty and ensemble member Michael Lynch. Photo by Sue Pinkman.
The Drowsy Chaperone is a musical with book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. It debuted in 1998, at The Rivoli in Toronto and opened on Broadway on May 1, 2006. The show won Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score and for Beth Leavel’s performance as The Drowsy Chaperone.
The Drowsy Chaperone is a tribute to American musicals of the Jazz Age, examining the effect musicals have on the fans who adore them. It started as a spoof of old musicals written by friends for the wedding of Martin and his wife, Janet. The central character, simply refered to as ‘Man in Chair’, seeks to cure his ‘non-specific sadness,’ by listening to a recording of a fictional musical comedy, The Drowsy Chaperone. As he listens to this recording, he is transported into the musical. The characters appear in his dingy apartment, and it is transformed into Broadway set.
The audience is greeted by the narrator, Man in Chair, sitting on a darkened stage. Man in Chair (Andres JM Regiec), breaks the fourth wall immediately by addressing the audience from a drab wing back in his dated and studio apartment. Regiec plays the witty yet sad-sack narrator dressed in heavy brown cardigan with round wire rimmed spectacles.We feel Regiec’s pain as he is begrudgedly dragged back to realty by modern day interruptions such as the phone ringing and unexpected visitors.
Once Man in Chair starts to play The Drowsy Chaperone, We are introduced to a barrage of characters during an introductory opening number “Fancy Dress”, including Mrs. Tottendale (Barbara Wilson) and her Underling (Richard Durkin), dashing bridegroom Robert Martin (Daniel McKay), forgetful and bumbling best man George (Mark Hildalgo), producer Feldzeig (Buz Gibson), ditsy chorine Kitty (Malinda Markland), pun crazy gangsters disguised as the pastry chefs (Tomas Huntley and Michael McAdoo), high strung showgirl Janet Van De Graff (Colleen Arnold), Latin lover Adolpho (John Loughney), the Drowsy Chaperone (Jennifer Lambert), and Trix (KJ Jacks).
Outstanding performances include Colleen Arnold’s numbers “Show Off” and “Bride Lament”. Colleen’s voice fills the theatre with energy and emotion. Daniel McKay and Mark Hildago’s song and dance number, “Cold Feets”, was reminicent of days gone by. Jennifer Lambert as The Drowsy Chaperone steals the show with her rendition of “As We Stumble Along.” Jennifer is a multi-talented performer who can channel Norma Desmond, dressed in over- the-top black sequined costumes, while singing and dancing. Last but not least, the “Ensemble” was energetic and looked like there were having a great time. I especially enjoyed their role during “I Do, I Do in the Sky”.
The inspired casting and brisk direction of Joshua Redford, magnifies and sometimes blurs the lines between fantasy & reality. During the show, he stages back-and-forth between the silliness of the musical and Man in Chair’s witty yet droll commentary.
The Pastry Chefs (Tomas Huntley, left; Michael McAdoo, right). Photo by Sue Pinkman.
Andrew JM Regiec and Skip Larson’s set design transforms the dreary brown and blue studio apartment into a theatrical stage. Though the shows takes place in a dringy studio apartment, Regiec and Larson create a multi-use set for this ‘show within a show. They use the ‘Man in the Chair’s refrigerator in a very clever way during the musical numbers. Lighting by Ken and Patti Crowley effectively lights the large show numbers. During the “Toledo Surprise” number, ‘Man in Chair’ is clearly seen at the back of the stage partiicpating as one of the members of the ensemble. The costumes designed by Charlotte Marson and Judy Whelihan enhanced the theme of the show by using dull colors and casual clothes for realty and bold colors and formal-ware to create a fantasy world. Their costumes created are air of nostalgia, opulence and ordinariness at the same time. Hair and makeup by Jaclyn Young were perfect. The choreography by Andrea Heininge was masterful. During the large ensemble numbers, the cast appeared relaxed and well-rehearsed. I really enjoyed “Cold Feets,” “Show Off,” “As We Stumble Along,” and “I Do, I Do in the Sky.
As Man in the Chair says, “The Drowsy Chaperone isn’t perfect, but it does what a musical is supposed to do. It takes you to another world.” Rick Schneider’s production does just that.
Running time: 1 hour and 40 minutes, with no intermission.
The Drowsy Chaperone, plays through November 5, 2011, at The Reston Community Center’s CenterStage – 2310 Colts Neck Road, in Reston, Virginia. For tickets, call (703) 476-4500, or purchase them online.
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Watch Sutton Sutton Foster and the Broadway cast of The Drowsy Chaperone performing ‘Show Off’ on the 60th Tony Awards.
