Crazy for You

A Cappies review by Ben Hoffman of Winston Churchill High School

selected for The Sentinel newspaper

 

What could you possibly get when you plop tens of New York chorus girls into a lonely town in the Wild West? Why, a night of laughter, dancing, and beautiful music at Montgomery Blair’s production of “Crazy for You,” that’s what. The Montgomery Blair Players charmingly executed this tap-filled musical comedy with energetic ensemble numbers, beautiful sets, a wonderful orchestra, and very enjoyable performances.

“Crazy for You,” written by Ken Ludwig, originally opened at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway in 1992. It features music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin, including such famous songs as “I’ve Got Rhythm,” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.” It is the story of a love-struck young man named Bobby Child (Isaac Arnsdorf) who attempts to save a theater in Deadrock, Nevada by pretending to be the famous Broadway producer, Bela Zangler (Russell Ottalini). Blair’s production retains all the charm and grace of the show while flawlessly executing its wonderful comedic elements and Ludwig’s hilarious dialogue.

Arnsdorf's performance was particularly enjoyable when his character was impersonating Zangler. His accent, body language and comic timing were all superb, and his witty dialogue with Lank Hawkins (Guru Khalsa) was especially enjoyable. Also notable were Emma Hutchinson as Patsy and Nora Boedecker as Tess, both New York girls having a grand old time in the old coal-mining town. Boedecker was natural and believable, and her attempts to dodge the real Zangler’s advances were always amusing. Hutchinson, with her squeaky speaking voice, hilarious facial expressions, and powerful stage presence, never failed to capture attention while on stage.

The orchestra, with its near-perfect intonation, wonderful balance, and good solos, contributed considerably to this lively show. While there were some problems hearing the singers, the orchestra was generally a wonderful complement to the excellent ensemble. The student-made sets were extremely impressive and scene changes were nearly flawless. This balance of powerful sound and visual intricacy gave the show a professional touch.

And we must not forget the big presence of Alec Garrin as Polly Baker, Bobby Child’s love interest. Garrin was convincing as the stern, hard-edged Polly and gave dimension to her character with her strong choices for body language and vocal inflection. She and Arnsdorf played off of each other very well, especially in the song, “Could You Use Me?”

The entire ensemble was very powerful, and nearly all its members had great energy as well as dancing and vocal ability. Full cast numbers such as “ Slap that Bass,” “I got Rhythm,” and “Stiff Upper Lip” lit up the stage, and the numbers featuring the Tap Dancing Follies Girls were always a pleasure to watch.

While there were a few shaky voices, some obviously fake slaps, and the occational diction problem, none of these difficulties detracted from the production’s overall effect. The combined energy and comic ability of the entire cast of Blair’s “Crazy for You” made for a very impressive show.