Jonathan Crombie in the 2008 Broadway Sacramento presentation of the national tour of “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Community Center Theater October 1-12. Photo by Joan Marcus.
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Jonathan Crombie in the 2008 Broadway Sacramento presentation of the national tour of “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Community Center Theater October 1-12. Photo by Joan Marcus. |
I've been reviewing shows in the Sacramento-area for about 15 years now, so it comes as a little bit of a surprise that I've finally got a new definitive favorite when it comes to musical comedies after all these years.
The Drowsy Chaperone, which opened it's two-week run at Sacramento's Community Center Theater on Oct. 1, is easily the funniest thing I've seen on a Sacramento stage to date.
The winner of five Tony awards in 2006, the musical was called "Ingenious" by The New York Times, and the "Best of 2006" by Entertainment Weekly. Those descriptions don't even begin to sum up The Drowsy Chaperone.
The premise is fairly simple. The Drowsy Chaperone tells the tale of a somewhat nerdy theater fan who is absolutely enthralled by the music from a 1928 musical called "The Drowsy Chaperone." His favorite thing to do is to sit in a chair in his apartment while he plays the record - yes, vinyl - and he imagines the production playing out before him right in his living room. He's never actually seen the show, but seems to be an expert in every little nuance of the production, right down to quirky little facts about all the stars.
The "Man in Chair" as he's known in the show guides the audience through the plot - and yes, he actually talks to the audience - often stopping the action as he walks among the cast commenting why they did this or that and wondering what it's all about.
The Drowsy Chaperone is about a pampered Broadway actress who decides to give up show business and get married. But her producer (at the urging of two gangsters - who double as pastry chefs) tries to sabotage the marriage. The producer tries to keep the couple apart on their wedding day, urging the bride's "chaperone" not to let the groom anywhere near her. We quickly discover why the chaperone is drowsy -- she drinks too much.
Everything unfolds with hilarious results - including the spot where the "Man in Chair" excuses himself to go to the bathroom. He puts the second album of the "two-album set" on for us to listen to while he's gone. But it turns out to be the wrong album - accidentally put in the jacket by the "Man in Chair's" cleaning lady. Until the apologetic "Man in Chair" gets back, we are treated to a few minutes of another nonsensical musical with an oriental theme.
There are so many funny spots in this show that's it's hard to remember them all and I wouldn't want to give them away anyway because The Drowsy Chaperone really needs to be seen to appreciate all the humor.
Jonathan Crombie plays the "Man in Chair," and he quickly won over the audience with his quick-wit, never missing a beat. If there is a "star" in the show, Crombie fills the bill and leaves you wanting more. The bride, Janet Van De Graaff (Andrea Chamberlain), did a great job in the role after understudying in the Broadway production. She has a great number in "Show Off" and also gets a lot of laughs as she tricks her blindfolded fiancé (Mark Ledbetter) into kissing her while posing as a French girl. Then she calls off the wedding because he had the nerve to kiss another woman! Playing the Chaperone was Alicia Irving. The whole cast did a great job, but perhaps the crowd favorite was Georgia Engel who originated the role of Chaperone's "Mrs. Tottendale" on Broadway. Engel, of course, was one of the most beloved characters on the 1970s "Mary Tyler Moore Show" where she played Georgette.
The Drowsy Chaperone plays through Sunday, October 12 at the Sacramento
Community Center Theater. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday evenings
at 8:00 p.m. with matinees Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. There
will be an additional performance on Sunday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Ticket prices range from $16.50 to $66.50 and are on sale now at the Wells
Fargo Pavilion box office, 1419 H Street, the Community Center Theater box
office, 1301 L Street, all tickets.com
outlets, online at www.tickets.com or
call (916) 557-1999, (916) 808-5181, or (800) 225-2277. Group orders (minimum
12 or more) may be placed by calling (916) 557-1198.
The Sacramento engagement
of The Drowsy Chaperone is presented by arrangement with California
Musical Theatre and is a subscription offering of the Broadway Sacramento
season. For more information, visit
BroadwaySacramento.com.