There were also moments in the 'musical' - such as the 'ice water routine' between Mrs Tottendale (Anne Rogers) and her butler (played by Nickolas Grace) which surely wouldn't have been considered funny in the 1920s, and most definitely aren't funny today - and telling us scenes such as this aren't funny, doesn't make them funny either. Though Bob Martin delivers some humorous and clever dialogue with numerous double entendres and asides, it's not always consistently funny. But that's how it's all meant to be in this musical spoof, which boasts a well-crafted set by David Gallo and exorbitantly glitzy costumes by Gregg Barnes, all bolstered by some good choreography - some neat tap dancing here - though the musical numbers themselves aren't likely to stick for too long in the average memory. A rotund radio producer has problems with two gangsters disguised as pastry chefs, and the affair is hosted by an eccentric lady called Mrs Tottendale assisted by her butler, Underling.Īs one might expect, the characterisations are larger-than-life and, well, over the top. There's also a ludicrously loud Italian gigolo named Adolpho, who pronounces 'ladies' as 'lidies' and sports a streak of grey in his hair, making him appear as something of a skunk. A host of oddball characters have been assembled for the wedding including 'The Drowsy Chaperone' (Elaine Page) herself whose drowsiness is the result of drinking champagne and rather too many 'Gibsons' (Martinis for those of you unfamiliar with cocktails). Essentially, it's about a variety star who's about to be married to a rugged hunk, and who must not see the bride before the wedding day. While playing his vinyl recording to us, the show miraculously unfolds right there in his apartment.Īs 'Man in chair' tells us, there's not much of a plot to this fictitious chunk of musical nonsense - he sums it up as "Mix-ups, mayhem and a gay wedding”.
![drowsy chaperone characters drowsy chaperone characters](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QoQ_McoaE8k/maxresdefault.jpg)
![drowsy chaperone characters drowsy chaperone characters](https://lyrictheatreokc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Drowsy_Promo_2.jpg)
Not only does he know the genre intimately, he's also prepared to share the minutae of his copious knowledge of plots, characters and actors with us, particularly with regard to what is supposed to be his favourite musical from the era 'The Drowsy Chaperone'. Played by Bob Martin who also co-wrote the book, 'Man In Chair' is an aficionado of 1920s musicals.
![drowsy chaperone characters drowsy chaperone characters](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8d/6e/b2/8d6eb2f1a6736c223ce1531275e91be7.jpg)
The voice belongs to 'Man in chair', who turns out not to be sitting in a theatre waiting for a performance to begin, but in his own small, basement apartment. That tingled the funny bones of the assembled theatrical glitterati, so not a bad start. But that doesn't wash with me - it's basically taking the mickey out of musicals of that period, rather than paying them anything vaguely approaching a compliment, which at least for me is what an 'homage' is all about. And that's the kind of opportunity the cast of this show have been offered and have taken up with vigorous relish.Īlready a hit on Broadway - where it continues to run - I've seen ' The Drowsy Chaperone' described as an 'homage to musicals of the Gatsby era'. Not that I am suggesting that our hard-working thespians are all hams at heart, but I suppose it's a welcome change to have the chance to do something with no hidden meanings, or strident emotions to conjure up night after night, and to just, well, have a bit of a laugh.
![drowsy chaperone characters drowsy chaperone characters](https://a2artsaddict.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/psp_4117.jpg)
Give actors the chance to camp it up and/ or ham it up and it's like ducks taking to water after a prolonged drought.