Review: HOW TO SUCCEED in Modern-day Theater

"How often does it happen
that a secretary's boss
wants to marry her?
Hallelujah!"

These lyrics, sung in all earnestness by the fine performers playing the gals of the World Wide Wicket Company's steno pool in Marriott Theatre's latest musical, are at the heart of why shows like HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING can't possibly maintain relevance in modern theater.

Now is the time to start reinventing these old chestnuts. The bones are rock-solid, but in the age of female empowerment, same-sex marriage, casual Fridays and the extremely fast pace at which technology evolves, they're in desperate need of updating.

Frank Loesser was a gifted composer/lyricist, but he was very specific to a particular time and place, which, not long after his death in 1969, began to fade away. Even his Oscar-winning song from 1949, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" -- a perennial favorite to this day -- seems a little creepy when you strip back the jaunty holiday sparkle and really listen to the lyrics.

But therein lies Loesser's genius. Even in Marriott's mediocre production of the dated HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS..., the crisp, thrifty, sprightly composition of the tunes along with the buoyant confidence of those delivering the catchy (even if now unfashionable) lyrics spreads a rosy sheen over the most sexist of ideas.

"I'm happy to keep his dinner warm, while he goes onward and upward," sings young Rosemary, a secretary enamored of young up-and-comer J. Pierrepont Finch, a window washer who talks his way into the company mailroom and works his way up the ladder -- not by hard work but by the seat of his pants and a self-help book that gives the show its title.

Rosemary's ultimate goal is to be a corporate wife, keeping house in the suburbs. I imagine in real life, the thought of such a concept conjures all manner of feminist rage for any actress, but Jessica Naimy plays the role to perfection, and sings beautifully to boot.

Ari Butler brings the right amount of nervous energy to Finch, which is a role that needs the proper nuance to get the audience to root for him even though he's a bit of a sleazy opportunist. Butler has it, even if he didn't always seem at home onstage.

Other standouts in the show include Marya Grandy as Rosemary's crackerjack secretary BFF and Alex Goodrich as the weaselly Bud Frump, the CEO's nephew. Terry Hamilton as CEO J.B. Biggley and Angela Ingersoll as sexpot Hedy La Rue also give spirited performances -- though the former needs to get his spitting under control and the latter was in danger of a wardrobe malfunction in the first act on opening night. (She covered like a pro.)

Marriott's theater-in-the-round setup isn't optimal for this show. It is serviceable for songs like "It's Been a Long Day" and "Grand Old Ivy," which employ only a handful of characters, but the bigger numbers, such as "Coffee Break," "Company Way," "A Secretary Is Not a Toy" (1960s executives needed to be reminded of that, of course), "I Believe in You," and especially the only near-showstopper in this production, "Brotherhood of Man," cry out for a more traditional space with room to showcase the talents of the chorus.

The Marriott pit orchestra was, as always, outstanding. And what the staging and props lacked in producing a corporate vibe, the bright and spot-on '60s costume design saved the day.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING continues through Oct. 16 at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Tickets are $50-$55, with discounts for students and seniors. For tickets or information: (847) 634-0200; MarriottTheatre.com.

Photo: Jessica Naimy (from left), Marya Grandy and Ari Butler.