Shortly after Theatre13 announced its intention to stage a joint production with the Jefferson Parish Arts Society of the highly successful Broadway musical "The Drowsy Chaperone," Tulane's Summer Lyric Theatre announced they would, likewise, present the same as part of their 2011 program. It was a bittersweet affair that resulted in several announcemets in public forums which questioned if the interests of the theatre community were truly being served by such competition between production companies. In truth the theatre going public was being given a gift.
The two-time Tony Award winner for Best Book and Best Score in 2009 is a Broadway enthusiast's dream about, well, a Broadway enthusiast. The Man in the Chair is a role that serves as the focus for the action, even though he is situated at the corner of stage right. It is through his love of this obscure Broadway cast recording of 1928 that we learn of the plot, songs, characters and supposed actors who take part in this work. When Ricky Graham was announced as the Man in the Chair, there were thoughts that this local beloved actor, singer and director could be an inspired choice of casting. There were dangers, howver. If Graham's formidable and beloved persona were to rise within the character, the quaint charm of the slightly misanthropic agoraphobe could be tainted. He is, after all, Mr. Ricky Graham. Indeed, there are a few moments where in the course of fleshing out his interpretation of the role where The Man in the Chair becomes Ricky Graham in the Chair, but that doesn't seem to make a difference to most audiences attending performances at the Westwego Theatre for the past two weekends. For many that is an improvement in the role. There is no doubt in fleshing out the character fellow director Gary Rucker must have known the strength of having such a well-known actor in the role and the chance some might suggest he was taking. Graham's reading is extremely good and for most of the hour and 40-minute peformance he is right on point, exuberant and gleeful as he brings to life several of the scenes for the audience.
As Janet Van De Graaf, Kelly Fouchi is another wonderful choice. This is a dream role for the actress and singer who plays a stage star being wed to Robert Martin, an heir to a large oil fortune, played by her real life husband, Marc Fouchi. Another couple who figure prominently are the hostess of the affair, Mrs. Tottendale, played by the first lady of New Orleans theatre, Janet Shea, and her butler Underling, played by the delightful Roland "Butch" Caire. As always, Shea is the height of perfection and Caire carries his role off with penaché.
Carrie Hill, who also serves as musical director, is The Drowsy Chaperone, a woman whose Prohibition era swilling is looked at with little or no regard. She is assigned the task of escorting the bride-to-be, but soon finds the way of love when she is courted by the dumb-witted gigolo Adolpho (Brian Peterson). David Hoover is Feldzeig, the impressario who tries to stop the wedding of his biggest star. He is accompanied by ditzy Kitty, a showgirl of questionable intelligence played convincingly by Carrie Black. Matthew Mickal and Matias Grau, III play two gangsters, masquerading as pastry chefs, both of whom are interested in keeping the marriage from happening. The last featured performer is Erica Fox as Trix the Aviatrix, mostly seen in the last part of the show. From start to stop "The Drowsy Chaperone" is full of great songs evocative of the jazz era ("Toledo Surprise" and "As We Stumble Along") and with a number of sight gags (can you say spit take?) and bits that make it especially entertaining. Kelly Fouchi's "Show Off" is another outstanding musical number as is the endearing "Love Is Always Lovely in the End" by Shea and Caire.
"The Drowsy Chaperone" plays for one last weekend Friday and Saturday, October 14-15 at 7:30 p.m. with the last matinee at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre.
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