OF THEE I SING: Book by George S. Kaufman & Morrie Ryskind. Music & Lyrics by George & Ira Gershwin. Directed by Greg MacKellan Musical Direction by Michael Anthony Schuler. 42nd Street Moon, Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111. (415) 255-8207 or www.42ndstmoon.org. October 3- 21, 2012
OF THEE I SING misfires at 42nd Street Moon.
All the elements are there for another hit musical production by 42nd Street Moon. They have rounded up 16 attractive singers and dancers to perform the much praised 1932 Pulitzer Prize winning musical that starred William Gaxton, Victor Moore and Lois Moran and had two successful revivals plus a much applauded recent Encore staging in New York City. For the lead roles 42ndStreet has picked Noel Anthony as presidential candidate “John P. Wintergreen” and Brittany Danielle as the beautiful southern belle “Diana Devereaux,” Both have received accolades for many local shows and Danielle was exceptional talented in Center Rep’s Xanadu. Then there is the reuniting of the Gershwins and Morrie Ryskind that wrote the great anti-war satire “Something for the Boys” that was a solid hit at the Eureka in 2010.
The book is a scathing but humorous look at National politics and is extremely appropriate as our presidential election nears. However, the play feels dated and the one line zingers that should skewer the politicians often fell flat. This was due to uneven timing and lack of projection by many of the cast due to overlapping music and dancing. The usually superb tenor Noel Anthony seemed dull and uninterested in bringing his character to life and rarely projected far beyond the footlights. Added to his walking through the role was the fact that there was no charisma between Anthony and Ashley Jarrett playing Wintergreen’s love interest Mary. The joke about falling in love because she can bake corn biscuits became tedious by the end of the evening that continued on for two hours and 30 minutes. There is an intermission.
Local luminary David Fleishhacker was conned (??) into playing the role of the ineffectual Vice President Alexander Throttlebottom made famous by the inimitable Victor Moore. He is not a Victor Moore but he was perfect in the role and received the most applause at the curtain call.
In the supporting roles DC Scarpelli, Michel Rhone Anthony Rollins-Mullins, Stewart Kramer and Stephen Vaught did yeoman work and the ensemble were the best part of the evening. With the exception of “Love is Sweeping the Country”, “Of Thee I Sing Baby” and “Posterity (Is Just Around the Corner)” most of the songs were unmemorable.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com
