Crazy for You

by Samantha Tempchin - Wootton HS

selected for publication at Blair

 

Combining the classic music of Gershwin with a true knack for comedy, the cast, crew, and pit orchestra of "Crazy for You" put on a stellar performance this weekend at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, MD.

Opening on Broadway in 1992, "Crazy for You" features the music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin woven together by playwright Ken Ludwig's hilarious dialogue. The show follows would-be dancer Bobby Child (Isaac Arnsdorf) from New York City to Deadrock, Nevada, where he falls head-over-heels for the town's lone female, Polly Baker (Alec Garrin). When Polly rejects his courtship, Bobby masquerades as New York producer Bela Zangler in order to put on a show both to save Deadrock's theater from the bank and win Polly's heart. Arnsdorf and Garrin showed incredible chemistry in their duets, and Arnsdorf seemed especially comfortable when donning a wig, mustache, and Hungarian accent as the fake Zangler.

The entire cast showed nearly impeccable comic timing, providing many key moments of wit and hilarity with appropriate speed and emphasis. Standouts in this area included Nora Boedecker as Tess and Emma Hutchinson as Patsy, whose characterizations complemented the action of the story. The ensemble scenes were undeniably strong, employing high enthusiasm and synchronization to create an atmosphere of good-natured high spirits that was essential to the play's success. Further adding to the ensemble's appeal was the troupe of tap-dancing Follies Girls, led by student choreographer Jessica Harris. The tappers started off the show with a bang in the glitzy "Can’t Be Bothered Now," all piling out of a working car built by the crew to join Arnsdorf on stage for this delightful number.

Another standout of the night was the extremely capable pit orchestra, which showed superior musicianship in tackling Gershwin's difficult score. Though it appeared at times that the cast had difficulty projecting weaker vocals over the instruments, the pit itself showed good volume and skillful balance, highlighting all sections evenly.

The show was also very visually impressive, thanks to the colorful and professional-looking set, as well as the lighting, which was well-focused and transitioned smoothly. The crew, under stage manager Otto Shah, was nearly invisible and very efficient, turning the set pieces with ease to make for quick transitions between scenes.

Maintaining an attitude of comfort and command of the stage, the Montgomery Blair Players gave a lively performance infused with an essential spirit of fun.