BWW Reviews: 42ND STREET at Village Theatre

Right from the first few notes of "We're in the Money" from the overture or the first glimpses of those dancin' feet under the curtain, you know you should be in for a big flashy Broadway musical.  And Village Theatre's final show of their season, "42^nd Street" does not let you down.  The show is a toe tappin', sequin clad throw back to the old style musicals and a big bright ball of fun!

Now for those that don't know the story from the original 1933 musical or the subsequent 1980 Broadway adaptation, it's your standard story of Broadway dreams.  Director Julian Marsh (John Bogar) is puttin' on a show!  So all the kids come out to get in (because it's better than standing on the bread line).  And after our first big tap production number (which starts the show) they all get in and the show is set, complete with its star Dorothy Brock (Shelly Burch).  She may not be as young or talented as these chorus kids but she's a big name and has the money man in her back pocket.  But along comes Peggy Sawyer (Krystle Armstrong) fresh off the bus from Allentown, PA and she has big dreams of being on Broadway.  But she's missed the audition.  Not to worry, a few song and dances later and with the help of the show's other lead Billy Lawlor (James Scheider) she makes it into the show.  Add in some misapprehensions on The Situations and one broken leg and now Peggy has to go on for the star.  But can she?  Will she?  Or is the show going to close before it even opens?  I wonder what will happen!

Burch is fantastic as the fading star.  She has the diva act down pat.  And just when I thought that was going to be all there was to her performance, she hit us with some stunning vulnerability.  An exquisitely layered performance.  Armstrong is lovely as the would be ingénue and belts and spins her way right into your heart right alongside the oh so baby faced Scheider whose voice astounds from the moment he opens his mouth.  I kept wondering where this big voice was coming from.  And his amazingly athletic dancing is no slouch either.  The incredibly versatile Bogar was great as the desperate director.  I've only ever seen him in his many Shakespearean roles and kept wondering, "Can he sing?"  Oh yeah!  He gives Jerry Orbach a run for his money.  I must mention hysterical performances from Leslie Law and Matt Wolfe as the writing duo of the show Maggie Jones and Bert Barry.  Law is reminiscent of a modern day Rose Marie or Nancy Walker with her attitude, comedic chops and killer voice and Wolfe had the audiences in stitches with his Stan Laurel-esque newlywed in the "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" number.  And I cannot forget to give props to the superb ensemble of hoofers.  Yes, hoofers.  With the amazingly in sync tap routines and audience rousing productions numbers, they have ascended beyond dancers.  They have now earned the moniker, "hoofers"!

Yes, the story is contrived, silly and straight out of another era.  But that's why we love it.  We get to look back on a simpler time and lose ourselves for 2 hours with big dance numbers.  And with the help of this stellar cast and director Steve Tomkins' spot on wide eyed innocent style for the show, you're bound to have a wonderful time.  So what are you waiting for?  Come on along and listen to the lullaby of Broadway!

"42^nd Street" plays at Issaquah's Village Theatre through July 3^rd and then will play at the Everett Performing Arts Center from July 9^th through August 1^st.  For tickets or information contact Village's Issaquah box office at 425-392-2202 or their Everett box office at 425-257-8600 or visit them online at www.villagetheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Jay Koh

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