Ginger Rogers Musical Goes Backwards in High Heels at ICT

Backwards in High Heels/The Ginger Musical
conceived & developed by Lynnette Barkley & Christopher McGovern
book, original songs/arrangements by McGovern
directed by Caryn Desai
International City Theatre (ICT), Long Beach
through March 21

Legendary star Ginger Rogers is long overdue for a musical show in her honor. Overshadowed by dancing partner Fred Astaire, she was known to have said "I did everything he did only backwards in high heels". Thus, we have the basis for the title of this classy, snappy new musical at ICT which is an instant audience pleaser.

Taking much liberty with the facts, the book by Christopher McGovern puts Ginger's mother Lela Rogers center spotlight as the driving force behind her career, which took her on the Orpheum Circuit from Texas to Broadway and eventually on to Hollywood stardom. On a big stage that resembles a ballroom with its floor length shimmering curtains and chandelier as backdrop (fine design by Stephen Gifford), six actors act, tap and sing their hearts out to mostly old standards by the Gershwins("Fascinating Rhythm"), Dorothy Fields and Jerome Kern ("A Fine Romance"), Harry Warren("We're In the Money") , Irving Berlin("Change Partners") and four new songs by McGovern. The plotline follows Rogers' journey from winning a contest as a teen to winning her Oscar in 1940 for Kitty Foyle, her first big dramatic role. Along the way are the various romances and five marriages that all ended in divorce. All of the personal relationships are skimmed over in this treatment; we get merely a glimpse of each with the exception of her first short term liaison with Jack Pepper, who, according to her disapproving mother, resembled her alcoholic, abusive father. Jack's is the only relationship that gets a whole scene; Lew Ayres, Jacques Bergerac, Jack Briggs and William Marshall come and go within the duration of the musical number "Change Partners" in Act II.

It would be nice to see more of Rogers' personal life fleshed out, but this story is about entertainment, and immensely entertaining it is. Director Dasai and choreographer Melissa Giattino keep the action moving nonstop. Anna Aimee White makes a sweet, pretty and driven Ginger Rogers. Lovely to look at in some beautiful costumes by Kim DeShazo, White brings out Rogers' intelligence and fiery sense of independent spirit. Heather Lee is perfection as religious and righteous mother Lela. With less comedy to perform here, Lee brings a grounded quality to the woman some have compared to Gypsy's Mama Rose. Christopher Carothers, Matt Bauer, Jeff Payton and Robin de Lano provide superb support as the mini chorus, essaying all the other roles in the story including Fred Astaire, Lew Ayres, director Hermes Pan, Jimmy Stewart, Ethel Merman, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis and many others.

The book needs some fine tuning, but as is, Backwards in High Heels is heavenly pleasurable fare.