Golddiggers Afloat

Dames at Sea – Theatre at the Center

Check your cares at the door and settle in for a fast-paced couple of hours of unbridled bliss. This most magically perfect, divinely flashy and old-fashioned of musical comedies, a show that few audiences have even heard of, has set sail in Munster. It’s the perfect show to usher in the Spring. Filled with jubilant songs, energetic choreography and exhilarating, endearing performances, this Valentine to those Busby Berkeley-style musical extravaganzas of the 1930’s is the consummate mindless entertainment that we all could use right now.

Back in 1966, a trio of friends who loved the cliche-filled  Broadway movie musicals from the Golden Age of Hollywood got together. They especially adored the old Warner Brother films that starred Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell. The trio decided to write a short musical sketch that would pay them homage. Inspired by such tap-happy showbiz musicals as “42nd Street,” “Footlight Parade,” “Dames” and “Gold Diggers of 1933,” composer Jim Wise along with lyricist/book writers George Haimsohn and Robin Miller wrote a revue they called “Golddiggers Afloat.” They eventually expanded their Off-Off-Broadway pastiche, calling it “Dames at Sea.” The two-act musical successfully played Off-Broadway, where it starred a young Bernadette Peters. After a London run, a TV adaptation and countless theatrical revivals, the musical finally opened on Broadway four years ago, for a limited run.

Linda Fortunato has mounted her own stellar production, both sharply directing and brilliantly choreographing her cast of six talented triple-threats. The show is musically guided and conducted by William Underwood, who also dazzles, along with Randy Clancy, on a pair of pianos; Nick Anderson is the production’s percussionist. 

The story is simply an evening of light confection and blithe songs and dances. It’s 1930’s Manhattan, and a Broadway musical is down to the final hours of rehearsal before the big opening night. Megalomaniac musical star, Mona Kent, is once again playing the Diva Card, making unreasonable demands on Hennesey, her frantic, put-upon director, and tormenting Joan, a spunky, talented chorine. Because the fleet’s in town, Joan’s boyfriend, Lucky, has stopped by the theatre to pay a call. Along with Lucky is his buddy, Dick, an aspiring songwriter.

The cast opens with the splashy song-and-dance number, “Wall Street,” just as Ruby, a pretty, talented, but naive, girl wanders into the theatre, suitcase in hand. She’s just arrived from Utah and is hoping to make it big as a Broadway star. Ruby’s immediately hired for the chorus, but not before she faints into Dick’s arms, from exhaustion and hunger (“It’s You”). The two young people immediately fall in love, “The Sailor of My Dreams,” and it looks like a happily-ever-after ending for Ruby and Dick. That is, until Mona Kent spots the young songwriter and decides to seduce him into writing songs for her.

When the cast becomes concern by the loud noises coming from inside the theatre, Hennesey finally admits that the theatre has been earmarked for demolition. Opening night, he reluctantly admits, will have to be scrapped . . . unless a new venue can be found immediately. Dick and Lucky are convinced that their Captain would be happy to offer his ship, so that the show can go on. It also helps that Mona has had a past relationship with the Captain; however, once aboard, Miss Kent becomes too seasick to go on. What’s to be done? Why, Ruby is instantly elevated to the starring role, which she delivers with style and pizzazz, in the big final production number, “Star Tar.” All ends happily, with three big weddings and Ruby heralded as Broadway’s newest musical star.

Ms. Fortunato’s cast is magnificent. With her perfect Betty Boop voice and kewpie doll looks, mega-talented Kelly Felthous is simply terrific. In addition to her other numbers, Ms. Felthous also delights with “Raining in My Heart.” She’s paired with handsome Hoosier, Todd Aulwurm as Dick. Together they sing and tap their way into the hearts of the audience. A star in her own right, sassy Sierra Schnack injects the show with her contagious spirit and topnotch musical and comic talents. She commands the stage with good-looking hoofer, Sam Shankman, who reminds us of a young Ray Bolger.

 Although the fabulous Colette Todd is cast in the role of Mona Kent, at the performance I attended I was treated to a wonderful performance  by understudy, Jenna Schoppe. And Steven Strafford, the always reliable comic actor/song-and-dance man, may be one of the best reasons to see this production. His energetic performance and captivating presence, both as Hennesey and the Captain, provides a textbook lesson in talent and theatrical versatility.

This scrumptious Broadway bonbon is like a combination of “42nd Street,” “Anything Goes” and “On the Town.” In addition to an affable, accomplished cast, this production features a gorgeous, ambidextrous scenic design by Jessie Howe, that magically transforms from a Broadway theater into a naval battleship. The show is nicely lit by Guy Rhodes with an excellent sound design by Barry G. Funderburg. Accented by Kevin Barthel’s perky period wigs and hair designs, Brenda Winstead has divinely captured the look of the Golden Era, with her neat nautical numbers and flashy costumes that sparkle with appropriate glitz and glamour. The entire visual effect is pure Broadway.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas    

Presented May 5-June 2 by Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster, IN.

Tickets are available at the box office, by calling 219-836-3255 or by going to www.theatreatthecenter.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.