When "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"
opened on Broadway in 1961, we may have been fighting the Cold
War, but President Kennedy had not yet been assassinated, terrorists
bent on taking over the world were found mostly in comic books,
and a woman’s place was still by her man, whether it was in the
office or in the home.
Forty years later, as the same musical comedy is produced by
Our Lady of Guadalupe Youth Theatre Company under the direction
of Joseph Appel, it is to a far different world. We’ve weathered
the storms of the civil rights, peace and feminist movements;
capitalism has triumphed over communism; and we’ve ended the
terror of the Cold War only to find ourselves threatened by terrorists
in our own backyard.
"How to Succeed in Business" is a lighthearted, if
somewhat cynical satire of American big business and the ambitious,
scheming individuals who claw their way to the top of the corporate
ladder. Based on Shepherd Mead’s novel of the same name, it has
music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, and book by Abe Burrows, Jack
Weinstein and Willie Gilbert. It ran for 1,417 performances and
won the Pulitzer Prize for drama, the Drama Critics’ Circle award
and a Tony for best musical. Six years later it was turned into
a film produced and directed by David Swift.
"How to Succeed in Business" also has the distinction
of overturning many traditional musical comedy devices. Its characters
are not particularly likeable. Its romance is weak. There is
no triumph of good over evil.
The hero is J. Pierrepont Finch (Michael Maniaci), a shrewd,
conniving window washer who, guided by his copy of "How
to Succeed in Business," walks into the office of World
Wide Wickets and embarks upon a meteoric rise from the mailroom,
to a junior executive position, to chief of advertising, to chairman
of the board.
Of course, he does face some formidable challenges – the obnoxious
Bud Frump (Guy Colgan), nephew of World Wide Wickets president
J.B. Biggley (Miguel A. Sierra); Biggley’s mistress, the sexy
secretary Hedy LaRue (Catherine Mancuso); and his growing attraction
to the fetching secretary Rosemary Pilkington (Tricia DelSorbo).
"How to Succeed," with its cartoon-like characters,
tongue-in-cheek humor and upbeat score, is perfect for an enthusiastic,
cast of junior high and high school-age performers, and Appel
has considerable talent with which to work.
Meniaci is a charming caricature of a man in love with himself.
He belts out the musical’s two love ballads – "Rosemary,"
sung to his girlfriend, and "I Believe in You," sung
to himself – with similar passion.
Colgan delivers a superb performance as the callow and simpering
Frump. Dressed in his bright red jacket, he wheedles and whines,
cavils and crows, and jumps for joy. He’s the very image of the
spoiled rich kid whose neck begs to be wrung.
Sierra is so credible as Biggley, it’s hard to believe he’s a
kid dressed in a man’s clothing. His rendition of Old Ivy is
well in the spirit of all those members of the old boys’ club
who never quite made it to manhood.
DelSorbo, with her sweet little bun, and Mancuso, in her Marilyn
Monroe wig, give the classic virgin-vamp dichotomy all its sweet
and sexy vigor.
But credit must go to the full cast for the ultimate showstopper,
"Brotherhood of Man," a jazzy, inspirational number
that has the audience clapping and the actors dancing off stage.
These are difficult times. But wounded hearts will be warmed
by the sight of the young people of Our Lady of Guadalupe Youth
Theatre Company carrying on, lifting our spirits as they lift
their voices in song and in hope. Even better, all proceeds from
this production will be donated to the Red Cross and other charities
to assist in their relief efforts.
Now more than ever, we need to see ourselves with all our warts
and worries, our foolishness and our freedom to be foolish. We
need to laugh at Rosemary singing blithely, "I’ll be so
happy to keep his dinner warm while he goes onward and upwards,"
or the innocence of the corporate workers chanting: "I play
it the company way. Wherever the company puts me, there I’ll
stay."
Most of all we need to hear the message of "Brotherhood
of Man" which, after all the ridiculous shenanigans at World
Wide Wickets, still has the ring of truth.
"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"
plays through Sept. 30, Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday
at 3 pm. Tickets are $10, seniors and children $7. (Proceeds
will be donated to charities.) Our Lady of Guadalupe is located
at 1518 73rd St. For more information, call (718) 232-6920.
