THEATER REVIEW CCTC/HJT’s ‘Drowsy Chaperone’ Is Silly And Fun

I love the theater, and musicals are high on my list. It’s something I have in common with the “Man in the Chair” in the musical “The Drowsy Chaperone.”

With music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, it’s the latest production at the Cape Cod Theatre Company/Harwich Junior Theatre. The narrator of the play, or the man in the chair (Helen Carrier), cranks up the Victrola, plays the soundtrack of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” a fictional 1928 musical, and enthusiastically draws us in. His excitement with every part of the play sets the tone for the show, actually a show within a show.

"That's what overtures are... a musical appetizer... a poo-poo platter of tunes," he says as an introduction, as the music builds and the stage fills with a crazy cast of characters. The transformation of his living room to an impressive Broadway set is fantastic.

The show’s plot is the wedding of oil tycoon Robert Martin (Colin Bourget) and Broadway star Janet Van De Graaf (Sydney Peterson) with a wild crew of attendees. There’s hostess Mrs. Tottendale (Samantha Walker) and her employee Underling (John O. Fennell), best man George (John O’Meara), Feldzig, a Broadway producer (Zane Euerle Bender), Janet’s ditzy costar Kitty (Grace Olaf), Latin lover Adolpho (Ian Hamilton), a couple of gangsters (Sage Barnes and Caroline Hussey), an aviatrix (Gianna Cassale) and Janet’s alcoholic chaperone (Emma Fitzpatrick) who’s supposed to keep her away from Robert until the wedding day. The gangsters are there to make sure Feldzieg convinces Janet not to marry Robert because their boss has invested in the successful Broadway show that Janet stars in. Kitty, though, sees Janet’s marriage as an opportunity for her to take the leading role. Adolpho is there at Feldzig’s behest to seduce Janet and dissuade her from taking the marital plunge.

And along with all those hijinks, there’s the normal drama of any wedding: the groom getting cold feet, a bride questioning her decision, a harried best man, guests just out to have fun, and of course, a chaperone — a drowsy one — having the most fun of all. Carrier, as the Man in the Chair, is a perfect compliment to the scenes unveiled throughout the show with interesting commentary and spot-on delivery.

Director Susan Thompson has assembled a great cast. There’s not a weak link in the bunch, which includes Avery Garrison and Kelly Martin in the ensemble. We loved the “modern” updates to the script, too.

There are many showstopping musical numbers, and the band behind the scene sets the tone. They are musical director Robert Wilder on piano; Simon McBride, drums; Burke McKelvey and Justin Torrellas,both on the clarinet, soprano and alto sax; and Dan Jager, trumpet. They were fabulous!

Peterson wowed the audience on “Show Off,” Bourget and O’Meara on “Cold Feet” were excellent, Hamilton is hysterical on “I am Adolpho,” and we loved the gangsters on “Toledo Surprise,” and the company numbers “Fancy Dress” and “As We Stumble Along” were over-the-top fun! Credit also to the zippy and clever choreography of Suzette Hutchinson; well done. Behind the scenes, one has to acknowledge Matthew Kohler’s excellent set design, Colleen Perry’s detailed costumes, Seamus A. Sartin’s sound design, M. Berry’s lighting design and Mary Beth Travis’s prop-gathering, which complete this engaging production. Backstage keeping all going during the run is stage manager Isabel Cavicchi, assistant stage manager Perry Gill, soundboard operator Rylan Daniels and lightboard operator Oliver Shaw.

The show runs about a little over an hour and a half with no intermission; it’s nonstop fun action and hilarity, along with outstanding singing and dancing. There’s a tap dance routine, acrobatics and even roller skating. Don’t miss this show.

DETAILS:

"The Drowsy Chaperone, a Musical Within a Comedy"

At Cape Cod Theatre Company/Harwich Junior Theatre, Division Street, West Harwich.

Through July 21, Wednesdays through Fridays at 7 p.m, Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Information and reservations: 508-432-2002, ext. 2, www.capecodtheatrecompany.org