Print Story Email Story Discuss Story (0)

Recommend ( 0 )

News-Sun photo by CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY Ellen Lemos is the drowsy chaperone in HLT's production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Keep in mind, drowsy in this case means tipsy.

click any photo to view this story's photo gallery

Related Links

advertisement

published: Friday, November 04, 2011

Pure silliness and fun open HLT season

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

SEBRING -- Your kids calling to complain about their lives -- and reversing the charges? Your boss telling you to work Saturday -- and you had plans to go fishing? Are you over tired, over stressed, or just plain over it?

Take heart. Thanks to the Highlands Little Theatre's opening production of the 2011-2012 season, you can escape from the vicissitudes of life and enjoy a good laugh during "The Drowsy Chaperone," which opens tonight.

The show's plot is ingenious, a satire of Broadway musicals and the over-acting in them.

The set up is complicated to describe, so read carefully.

An avid fan of musicals is sitting at home in a small, drab apartment surrounded by her cats. Known only as the Woman D'in the Chair (wonderfully brought to life by Amanda Lavan), she is aware that Broadway musicals are about, well, humm-able music and not insightful characterization or the philosophy of life.

She puts the vintage original cast recording of her most favorite musical, "The Drowsy Chaperone," on her phonograph -- this wasn't the kind of show that ever made it to CD -- and settles in to enjoy.

Here is where it gets complicated.

The Woman D'in the Chair speaks directly to the audience, providing commentary on not the just the play, but the original cast actors playing the parts. She explains their histories and critiques their talent.

As the overture begins, The Woman's imagination takes hold and the musical comes to life in her living room, as bright and colorful as real life.

Keep in mind the Highlands Little Theatre actors are each playing two roles -- the hammy actor and his or her character in the faux 1920s era show.

The plot of the musical within the play is much more straight forward.

It takes place at the home of rich, but ditzy Mrs. Tottendale (Marcia Ward) who is providing the place for a friend's wedding.

The bride is an actress turning down a role and giving up the stage to marry the man that she loves.

The audience may sense some ambivalence about her choice, however, when the actress, Janet Van De Graff (Martile Blackman) sings about no longer wanting to be the center of attention -- while doing a full scale production number.

Her bridegroom (Adam Meredith) arrives with his best man (Daniel Finney). Then Feldzeig, the producer (Joseph Dazz) of the show from which Van De Graff is walking away, and Feldzeig's dizzy girlfriend Kitty (Johanna Johnston). He's followed by two gangsters (Corey Adams and Bethany Finney) who have a financial stake in the show and press Feldzeig to press Van De Graff into not getting married so the show can go on.

The Drowsy Chaperone (Ellen Lemos) arrives. Her single task is make sure the bride and the groom don't see each on their wedding day, but this isn't easy as the chaperone stays three sheets to the wind.

Add in a long-suffering butler named Underling (Andy Basso), a third-rate Latin lady's man named Adolpho (Bill Farmer), and Trix the aviatrix (Asia Grace Gilroy) and the inevitable complications and misunderstandings ensue.

Throughout, the Woman D'in the Chair provides a running commentary.

When it looks like the marriage won't happen, and the gangsters -- passing as pastry chefs -- close in on Feldzeig, The Woman says, "Will it all work out? Of course it will! It's a musical."

Small touches add to the humor -- when the photograph needle sticks and repeats, so do the actors. There is a moment when The Woman puts on the wrong record and ... well, you'll just have to see it.

The costumes, singing and dancing are well done, the dancing particularly inventive, and energetic in the best possible way. Blackman is nothing short of impressive.

Newcomers Corey Adams and Johanna Johnston stand out, while veterans Adam Meredith, Bill Farmer and Ellen Lemos have good campy fun.

"The show is a magical mayhem of slapstick. It has flappers, tap dancing, roller skating, over the top characters who just make you laugh -- and a plane crash," said Director Art Harriman.

For tickets or more information call the theater box office at 382-2525 or go online at www.highlandslittletheatre.org/.