'42nd Street' Diverts in Downtown Stoneham

42^nd Street

Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics by Al Dubin, Book by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble, Based on the Novel by Bradford Ropes, Original Direction and Dances by Gower Champion, Originally Produced on Broadway by David Merrick

Director/Choreographer, Ilyse Robbins; Music Director, Jim Rice; Scenic Design, Kathryn Kawecki; Costume Design, Rafael Jaen; Lighting Design, Jeff Adelberg; Sound Engineer, John Stone; Stage Manager, Josiah George; Assistant Stage Manager, Lauria Kincaid

CAST: Ephie Aardema, Margaret Ann Brady, Neil A. Casey, Bob DeVivo, Russell Garrett, Mark Linehan, Kevin Patrick Martin, Andy McLeavey, Kathy St. George, Arthur Waldstein, Ceit Zweil; ENSEMBLE: Deirdre Burke, Sarah Coombs, Laura Graczyk, Zach Gregus, Eric Hamel, Hannah MacDonald, DJ Plunkett, Brandon Timmons, Pim van Amerongen

Performances through May 29 at Stoneham Theatre, 395 Main Street, Stoneham, MA; Box Office 781-279-2200 or www.stonehamtheatre.org

Come and meet those dancing feet as the Stoneham Theatre presents the classic Broadway musical 42^nd Street. IRNE Award-winning choreographer Ilyse Robbins makes her professional directorial debut and impresses with great staging of great dances. She creatively meets the challenge of space constraints, as well as scaled-down orchestra and ensemble. Music Director Jim Rice leads a band of three, but puts out a big sound augmented by the ferocious rhythm of the troupe of tapping chorus boys and girls.

Winner of the 1980 Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Revival in 2001, 42^nd Street tells the story of Peggy Sawyer, the neophyte chorus girl who arrives in New York from Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the midst of the Depression with the dream of dancing in a Julian Marsh production. She stumbles into a job and gets the chance of a lifetime to headline the show when the star takes a tumble. It is a quintessential backstage story revealing the blood, sweat, and tears involved in putting on a big Broadway musical, jam-packed with memorable song and dance numbers.

Local favorite Kathy St. George is featured as Dorothy Brock, the over-the-hill leading lady with an attitude and a wealthy backer. She chews the scenery, but also displays a range of emotions as Dorothy comes to realize what is truly important to her. Like his alter ego Marsh, Russell Garrett is very much in control as the producer, but his vocals are a bit weak. Ephie Aardema plays the bubbly Peggy Sawyer, capturing her wide-eyed innocence and "gotta dance" enthusiasm. Aardema's lightning fast feet give credence to all of the script's references to Sawyer's amazing talent. Andy McLeavy wows with his astonishing tenor and tap skills as the show's romantic lead Billy Lawlor.

Margaret Ann Brady (as Maggie Jones) and Neil A. Casey (as Bert Barry) offer wonderful comic relief, giving a master class in timing and mugging. Two other pros are Bob DeVivo as Dorothy's lover and Arthur Waldstein as her Sugar Daddy. Ceit Zweil stands out as Anytime Annie, the hard-boiled chorine, and Kevin PatRick Martin and Mark Linehan step from the chorus to portray members of Marsh's staff. The rest of the ensemble of wonderful singers and dancers, several of whom are college students, comprises Deirdre Burke, Sara Coombs, Laura Graczyk, Zach Gregus, Hannah MacDonald, DJ Plunkett, Brandon Timmons, and Pim van Amerongen.

Scenic design by Kathryn Kawecki includes rolling staircases which are used in several configurations, theater marquees, and set pieces to indicate a dressing room and a tea house. Jeff Adelberg does some interesting things with lighting to project shadows and segregate scenes, but I found the rear footlights that shine into the audience's eyes problematic. Rafael Jaen's costumes help to define the characters, as well as reflect the era. Sound engineer John Stone provides good balance between the voices and orchestration.

Despite the fact that Stoneham's 42^nd Street is, by necessity, downsized to smaller proportions, there is much to be said for a show that can put a smile on your face, tug on the heartstrings, and send you out tapping into a rainy night. It may not be Gene Kelly, but it's pretty good for the suburbs.

Photo credit: Carla Donaghey (Andy McLeavy as Billy Lawlor and Company)