Fred Astaire, watch out. Your reputation
is on the line. Tony Montenieri is in town and the Heights Players
have a hit.
The hit is "Crazy for You," and Montenieri plays banking
heir Bobby Child in Ken Ludwig’s reworking of the Gershwin brothers’
musical, "Girl Crazy."
"Crazy for You" opened at the Shubert Theatre in February
1992 and ran for 1,622 performances before closing in March 1993.
Before the final curtain fell, "Crazy for You" won
three Tonys (musical, costume design and choreography), two Drama
Desk Awards (musical and choreography), and five Outer Circle
Critics Awards (Broadway musical, choreography, scenic design,
costumes and lighting).
"Crazy for You" is limited to three weekends at the
Heights Players, so you’d better hurry or you’ll miss a lively
and lustrous tribute to the Gershwins.
Ed Healy directs a cast of 20 in this exuberant musical extravaganza.
He is ably assisted by Anne Rebold, who plays keyboard and conducts
the orchestra – Eric Kay on reeds, Donna Rossi on trumpet and
Dave Birchard on percussion; Kathy Valentine, who staged the
tap numbers; and Gina Healy, who staged additional musical numbers.
Robert J. Weinstein has designed an unusually large number of
very effective light cues.
Clearly, it’s not easy for a community theater to undertake a
musical of this magnitude. The large-scale production numbers
of "Crazy for You" have to be adapted to a small stage,
and performers have to make audiences forget they ever heard
these notable songs performed by the likes of Ethel Merman and
Judy Garland. In this, Healy and his crew are remarkably successful.
The magnificent Montenieri plays opposite Kerry Ann Lambert,
making a stunning Heights Players debut as Polly Baker, the pretty
postmistress of Deadrock, Nev., who so beguiles Bobby that he
forsakes his mission to foreclose on the decrepit Gaiety Theatre
owned by her father, Everett Baker (the Ed Wynn-like Bill Wood)
and instead put on his own follies to raise money to save the
building.
Bobby’s task becomes more difficult when Polly discovers who
he really is, so in desperation, he assumes the identity of the
real impresario, Bella Zangler (the excellent Steve Velardi)
for whom he has previously (unsuccessfully) auditioned with an
impromptu dance number (the show-stopping "Krazy for You").
Ludwig’s play is filled with quick one-liners and quicker sight
gags. But the show is really a vehicle for Gershwin’s spectacular
music and the numbers they inspire – the rousing "Slap That
Bass," the tender "Someone to Watch Over Me,"
and the slapstick "What Causes That?" in which Montenieri
(the fake Zangler) joins Velardi (the real Zangler) in mirror
image choreography.
Ludwig incorporated six songs from "Girl Crazy" ("Bidin’
My Time," "Could You Use Me?" "Embraceable
You," "But Not for Me," "I Got Rhythm,"
and part of "Entrance to Nevada"). The rest of the
songs come from Broadway shows like "Treasure Girl,"
"Oh! Kay," "Show Girls" and "Ladies
First"; and Hollywood films like "Shall We Dance"
and "Damsel in Distress." Just one song, "Naughty
Baby," was written for neither stage nor screen.
This production is blessed with a particularly strong supporting
cast. David Eason Smith is quite convincing as the crude and
avaricious saloonkeeper Lank Hawkins. Albert Walsh is the perfect
Englishman, Eugene Fodor. Kristiann Menotiades is delightful
as Zangler’s flame, Tess. And Alex Gushwin is fresh and funny
as the not-too-bright showgirl, Patsy.
Particular attention should be paid to Albert Walsh’s superb
costumes – especially in dressing Bobby’s wannabe girlfriend,
Irene Roth (Gina Healy), who sports a variety of slinky, sexy
outfits that are skimpy in all the right places.
The Gershwins are ranked among the most cosmopolitan and sophisticated
men to have ever plied their trade on, or off Broadway. They
are the epitome of Tin Pan Alley style, yet they were born and
raised in East New York. And to those who reside in this borough,
they’re as Brooklyn as the Dodgers and egg creams.
George Gershwin, according to Merman (who made her Broadway debut
as Frisco Kate in "Girl Crazy"), enjoyed sneaking into
the pit during Wednesday matinees to play the piano part of "I
Got Rhythm." He would most certainly have approved of this
hometown rendition of so many of his most memorable songs.
The Heights Players production of "Crazy
for You" runs through Oct. 19, Fridays and Saturdays at
8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. Tickets are $15, $12 students and
seniors. The Heights Players are located at 26 Willow Place between
State and Joralemon streets in Brooklyn Heights. For reservations,
call (718) 237-2752.
