Drowsy Chaperone
I had seen this play back in the spring at the Norton Center for the Arts on the lovely campus of Centre here in Danville. I had decided, after so many months had passed, just a few days ago to not write this blog/review and instead focus on other things. Then however, as is serendipitous as can be, I get an email notification of it playing at the Opera House in Lexington, Kentucky. I then felt I needed to make some light mention of it, as I know a few friends would definitely enjoy it.
A bit of background on what it is to begin. It is a musical, one of those grand traveling Broadway musicals (that we are so fortunate to get at Centre despite the small nature of the town of Danville). More correctly it is a play about a guy listening to old musicals on albums and within the play a musical actually occurs. But even more correctly, the guy is really just the narrator and a bit of sometimes comic relief from a very comical musical. His insight and comments do add to the background information of what is going on for the audience though and are well placed.
Beyond that, the show itself is very upbeat and is in most cases a laugh a minute. I went with one of the finest women with which I have ever attended such an event, my grandmother. I was not sure exactly if she would enjoy it or not, but the even the more modern humor in the mix was something with which she kept up and she just as I did left the both happy with the performance and an aching side from having laughed so much.
Without giving too much away, as the narrator recollects and listens through an album with the soundtrack to the musical of yesterday the stage transforms to his vivid memory. Often he starts with bits of information about the original cast or this little fact and other times he begins by nearly singing the numbers. All it all it is a nice effect.
The musical within is about the couple who are destined to find love, despite one being involved with another. Of course the ‘drowsy chaperone is supposed to keep this from happening. Add into the mix gangsters running around with a mission all the while pretending to be bakers or caterers and a Latin Lothero and it is almost any ones guess at what comic bit will hit next.
It plays in Lexington at the Opera House on January 22nd, 2010. Here is a link to tickets and they just went on sale, so get a ticket or two and enjoy the show.
** – image is from the shows production materials
