By Ellysheva C. Zeira
“‘Mix ups, mayhem and a gay wedding!’ Well of course the phrase gay wedding has a different meaning now.” The Drowsy Chaperone is a musical for people who understand and love musicals. This was also roughly the tagline for 42nd Street but this is far different from 42nd Street. Instead of going behind the scenes of a musical, it is more of a satirical view of old 20s musicals from the perspective of people who love them.
It is hilarious if you have seen, been in, or heard old musicals. It is witty and fun. The main premise of musical surrounds a man who is feeling “blue” so he puts on his favorite musical to make himself feel better and it unfolds in his one room apartment. He constantly talks with the audience about the musical, his life, and exterior knowledge (which is surprisingly not annoying).
The singing, dancing, plot, and acting are all typically 20s. If this is understood one can see how wonderful it is. The script is not supposed to be good, the lyrics are not supposed to be deep, the plot is campy; it was all about entertainment. It is exaggerated to get the laugh, to show that no matter how extraordinary a musical is it still has the ability to touch someone. The superior writing however does show itself through the Man in Chair (Bob Martin).
The lavish costumes and sets, which work in to the apartment, are all very visually pleasing. The cast was amazing, especially Sutton Foster, who is truly a crowd pleaser, and Bob Martin, who develops such a rounded character that one could believe that he actually exists. Although this stunning musical would be more appreciated by someone who knows about 20’s musical theater, any viewer can appreciate the entertainment factor if they keep in mind that this is sort of spoof on some of the ridiculous aspects of musical theater.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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