Broadway Baby

Dames at Sea

When you arrive at the Citadel Theatre, you might want to just check your cares at the door. Then settle in for a tuneful, fast-paced couple of hours of bubbly bliss. This fun, flashy and magical musical comedy is a show that, I’m guessing, few audiences have even heard of, let alone enjoyed. But, despite it not having a Christmas or Hanukkah setting, this musical is the perfect show to put theatergoers in a festive, holiday mood. Get ready to meet a bonafide “Broadway Baby”.

In 1966, three friends, who adored the old Warner Brother films that starred Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell, decided to write a short musical sketch to pay homage to them. Inspired by such tap-happy, tuneful showbiz films as “42nd Street,” “Footlight Parade” and “Dames,” composer Jim Wise and lyricist/book writers George Haimsohn and Robin Miller created a musical revue they called “Gold Diggers Afloat.” Eventually they expanded their Off-Off-Broadway pastiche, calling the musical DAMES AT SEA. The two-act show successfully moved 

Off-Broadway in 1968, where it starred a young, then unknown  Bernadette Peters. After a London run, a TV adaptation and countless theatrical revivals, the musical finally opened on Broadway in 2015.

The story is an evening of humor, light confection and blithe songs and dances. It’s 1930’s Manhattan, and a Broadway musical production’s down to its final hours of rehearsal before the big opening night. The show’s star Diva, Mona Kent, is once again 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 young girl wanders into the theatre, suitcase in hand. She’s just arrived from Utah and hoping to make it big on Broadway. 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 good-looking young songwriter and decides to seduce him into writing songs for her.

The cast eventually becomes concerned by the loud noises coming from inside the theatre, and Hennesey finally admits that the theatre has been earmarked for demolition. What?!! It’s opening night and he reluctantly admits that the show’ll have to be scrapped . . . unless a new venue can be found immediately. Dick and Lucky are positive 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?

Talented Director/Choreographer Gregg Dennhardt has guided this delightful show with so much vim, vigor and verve. He teams up with gifted Musical Director Kyra Leigh to make this production truly sing and dance. And their wonderful cast is a real dream team. Displaying a beautiful and adorable Betty Boop-like voice, paired with her cute, kewpie doll looks, talented Melody Rowland is simply terrific as Ruby. In addition to other numbers, Ms. Rowland delights with a forlorn ballad, “Raining in My Heart.” And the gifted performer simply pulls out all the stops with her rousing production number, “Star Tar.” Enjoyed in Citadel’s recent production of THE COTTAGE, Melody Rowland is one of the best reasons for seeing this production.

 She’s teamed up with handsome Beck Hokanson as Dick. This young man appeared in Kokandy’s excellent AMERICAN PSYCHO and Metropolis’ CINDERELLA. Together these two talents sing and tap their way into the audience’s hearts. Mr. Hokanson’s solo, “Broadway Baby,” as well as his duets with Ms. Rowland, like “There’s Something About You,” are marvelous. Also seen in THE COTTAGE, and a star in her own right, sassy Elizabeth Bushell, as Joan, injects the show with her contagious spunky spirit and topnotch musical talents. She commands the stage with good-looking hoofer, Peter Kattner III, as Lucky, who kind of resembles a young Ray Bolger.

A fabulous newcomer to the Citadel stage, Ciara Jarvis absolutely owns the role of megalomaniac Mona Kent. Ms. Jarvis is a true triple-threat treat with a terrific trained voice. She gives a wonderful performance in the role of a lifetime. Her renditions of “That Mister Man of Mine” and “The Beguine” are delectable. Joe Bushell, although a little too loud for this intimate venue, is excellent as theater producer, Hennesey. And multitalented Steve McDonagh, one of Chicagoland’s finest comic actors and song-and-dance men, is a standout in the role of the Captain. His energetic performance, great singing and captivating presence in this role is a textbook lesson in fine character acting.

This delicious little Broadway bonbon will remind theatergoers of classic musicals like 42 STREET and ANYTHING GOES. In addition to an accomplished cast, this production features a winning and versatile Scenic Design by Bob Knuth, that, with the addition of some great Projections by Liviu Pasare, magically transforms from a Broadway stage into a naval battleship. The show is nicely Lighted by Emma Linnae (except for some dark areas far stage left and right) with an excellent Sound Design by Maya Reter. Accented by an array of perky period wigs, Danielle Reinhardt has beautifully captured the look of the Golden Era. Costumed with her neat nautical numbers and glitzy and glamorous Broadway creations, Ms. Reinhardt literally makes this production sparkle. The entire visual effect is pure Broadway.

Filled with jubilant songs, energetic choreography and exhilarating, endearing performances, this little pocket-sized musical is perfectly suited for the Citadel stage. The show’s a Valentine to all those beautiful Busby Berkeley-style musicals of the 1930’s. This enjoyable entertainment is, quite frankly, a delightful diversion that we all could use right now. Don’t miss this Broadway Baby!

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented November 15-December 15 by Citadel Theatre, 

300 S. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 847.735.8554 or by going to www.citadeltheatre.org.

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