The Broadway Ferret

Image from www.lauren-online.net

Rating: 4 out of 5 masks

Keep in mind that this review is for a preview performance.  That being said, the show’s not bad.

The current revival of this musical stars Oliver Platt as Nathan Detroit, a guy trying to find a new place to hold his floating crap game; Lauren Graham as his “doll” Adelaide who wishes he would stop playing craps and marry her; Craig Bierko as Sky Masterson and Kate Jennings Grant as missionary Sarah Brown, the “doll” Nathan bets that Sky can’t get to go to Cuba with him.

What got my attention was all the neon signs in the house.  I thought it was a little much in terms of size and how one was practically a sentence.  I was glad, however, when they weren’t used all the time and the “wordy” sign was not always lit in its entirety.  I was a little caught off guard when I saw more of the signs on stage.  Thankfully they weren’t used all the time themselves.

One of my favorite parts of the production was when the orchestra was revealed to be upstage and on three levels.  I have to give it to the director for the original (I’m assuming it hasn’t been done before) layout.  I also liked what I think are the old fashioned stands, the kind you would see in an old movie or a movie set in the 40s or 50s.  The whole look really helps set the mood.

I liked the orchestrations and the choreography that went with them.  I really liked how the opening orchestration was its own number, and not some piece of music played before the curtain went up.

I thought the actors were really good.  I had no idea either of the leads could sing, so it was a pleasant surprise to seem them perform.  I really liked Lauren Graham’s character.  I thought she maintained her accent well.  I thought Kate Jennings Grant had a great voice.  I liked how her character evolved over the course of the show.

I would recommend this show to anyone who’s a fan of old-fashioned musicals.  I would not recommend this for teens because of content and an image that appeared during the show.

Running time: 2 hours, 35 mins w/intermission