Despite the fact that an
Encores! production lasts a mere 5 performances and the cast assembled barely two weeks prior to begin rehearsals - most - including this one - end up being possibly the best performances on Broadway! No, No, exception here. Penned in 1925 by Otto Harback and
Frank Mandel (who ever heard of them?) with Music by Vincent Youmans (him either?) this tale is a showcase of old fashioned musical song and dance.
Headlined by Sandy Duncan, Beth Leval, Shonn Wiley, Michael Berresse, Charles Kimbrough, Mara Davi, and Rosie O'Donnell- this gem was near production quality! Books? Who used one? One might surmise these actors had the time of their life singing and dancing ...and dancing... and dancing... the night away!
Lord knows how old
Sandy Duncan (Sue) is these days, but she kicked higher than I could at 18 years old, she looked better than I did at 23, and she tap danced better than people I know who do it for a living. The incomparable
Beth Leval and
Michael Berresse paired up as husband and wife. Beth (Lucille) tore down the house with
The "Where-Has-My-Hubby-Gone-Blues" Blues and Michael (Billy) tore up the stage with his effortless leaps and dance steps in such numbers as
Telephone Girlie and
You Can Dance with Any Girl and
Call of the Sea. Fred Astaire, eat your heart out - you've got tough competition in the uber-adorable and ever-graceful
Shonn Wiley (Tom). Cleverly cast in a role choc full of comic relief,
Rosie O'Donnell (Pauline) landed each entrance, one-liner, and exit with aplomb.
This show is truly a dancer's showcase. Each of the chorus boys (all adorable) and girls made it all seem simple - including the multiple full cast tap numbers. Truly a treat. Remember - two week's rehearsal, folks. Unbelievable how so many people can be on stage tapping and it always sounded line one single pair of feet. They truly wanted us all to be happy. (
I want to be Happy is perhaps the most well known number from this show).
Encores! may represent the "Best Of" when it comes to talent, enthusiasm, and pure enjoyment of the craft. It's not a commercial Broadway run , yet you can see that each cast member truly enjoys every moment of the show. And speaking of "Best of" - an evening at
Encores! would not be complete without the incomparable Rob Fisher and the
Encores! Orchestra - always a class act located right on stage. And for
No, No Nanette - not one, but
two grand pianos! Beyond elegant. All those fingers tinkling all those ivories. A perfect match to all those toes and heals a-tappin' on stage. Bravo! Just when you think I'm done with all the complements, I have to mention the costumes - classy, dashy, and always dripping with class. All those flapper girls with the car wash dresses, dripping with sequins - and the dapper chorus boys all in preppy cardigan vests, then swimming suits (the real things) and a classy finish in black tie and tuxes. Never a hair out of place and always a smile on their faces.
I wish i could tell you all to run out and see it, but all that happiness is already faded and the curtain has fallen on the last performance tonight for the
City Center Gala. You'll just have to wait until the next one comes along!
The adorable and perfectly talented Jim Parsons is at the helm as the lovable Elwood P. Dowd this time around filling those big shoes of Jimmy Stewart quite nicely. Jessica Hecht (Veta Louise Simmons) Charles Kimbrough (William R. Chumley MD), Tracee Chimo (Myrtle Mae Simmons) Carol Kane (Betty Chumley) and Larry Bryggman (Judge Gaffney) round out the tremendously talented cast which also includes Rich Sommer (Duane Wilson) and Morgan Spector (Lyman Sanderson, MD).
