Crazy for You
by Jackie Reed - Herndon HS
selected for publication at Blair
Montgomery Blair High School presented "Crazy for You" last weekend, with great extravagance! Ken Ludwig’s musical, which opened on Broadway in 1992, contrives a plot to weave some classic Gershwin songs together. The show is a throwback to the grandiose 1930s musical, with giant sets, large choruses of beautiful tap dancing follies girls, and a classic boy from Park Avenue meets spunky cowgirl storyline. It also features some of the best songs ever to appear on Broadway!
New Yorker Bobby Child (Isaac Arnsdorf), who cares little for his mother’s ambitions for him to continue the family banking business, dreams of singing in the follies. After a lousy audition for the famous Hungarian director, Bela Zangler (Russel Ottalini), Bobby feels dejected, but is ordered by his haughty mother to Nevada, where he is to foreclose on the Gaiety Theatre. Bobby immediately falls in love with Polly Baker (Alec Garrin), who swears to loathe him forever for closing down her theater, even though she has actually already fallen for him. By disguising himself as Zangler, Bobby thinks he can create a smash show, save the theater from foreclosing, and win back Polly’s affections, but many hilarious twists and turns threaten Bobby’s “foolproof” plan along the way!
Montgomery Blair’s entire cast displayed the great comic energy that this show requires. Ken Ludwig’s witty,'30s era dialogue was delivered with confident precision and good timing. The full ensembles had great energy, lovely tone, and a strong sound for cast numbers; only once in a while being overpowered by the large orchestra whose renditions were exceptional for high school theatre, with spectacular fullness and balance (despite the uneven number of strings to brass, great control, and fun usage of sound effects.
Isaac Arnsdorf, playing Bobby Child, truly transformed, with a mustache, wig, and Hungarian accent, into a comedian (and the fake Zangler). The over-the-top character of Zangler was easier to play than the straight man dreamer, but Arnsdorf pulled both Zangler and Bobby off, revealing a dynamic character range. Alec Garrin, playing the female lead of Polly Baker, put on a natural sounding western accent that not only had an endearing twang but also a very mature tone that resonated from behind the nose and the bottom of the throat! Garrin’s energy was also very true to her character. Her movements, how she held herself and how she danced, were graceful, yet slightly awkward since she had grown up in a predominantly male community. The two actors played out the love/hate relationship well, whether it was Polly with Bobby, or Polly with Zangler!
The supporting cast played their own interesting parts well too. The real Zangler (Russell Ottalini) stood out as especially funny. Every quip was caught through the consistent accent. His song with Bobby as the phony Zangler, “What Causes That?” where they mirror each other and lament lost love, was humorous, creative, and altogether well executed. The cowboy trio also blended well with difficult harmonies in “Bidin’ My Time.”
Technical elements of the production were extravagant. Head mikes controlled the volume well for leads, however the other sound elements were much more inconsistent. The set on the other hand was quite a spectacle! Student work was not obvious, with the intricate designs of thick, near professional set wagons and a descending backdrop on which a scene was painted. All the paint jobs were done with good, careful artistry. The outdoor and indoor sets of the hotel were aesthetically pleasing, having a true western rustic look to them. Attention to all set details was paid.
Montgomery Blair High School’s cast and crew utilized their best talents in this difficult show. Every character showed how they “Got Rhythm” in this hysterically fun production of Crazy For You!