ON THE TOWN BY DIABLO THEATRE COMPANY A HELLAVA SHOW AND DANCING JOY

In 1944, Leonard Bernstein teamed up with the young Jerome Robbins to produce the spectacular ballet Fancy Free that was converted into a musical comedy with book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. It ran for 450 performances and 5 years later was made into a hit movie starring Gene Kelley, Frank Sinatra, Ann Miller and Betty Garrett. A revival in 2008 was a smash hit receiving rave reviews. Diablo Theatre Company (formerly Diablo Light Opera Company) has teamed up with dancers from Company C Contemporary Ballet to produce an exciting fresh, well-paced audience pleasing show that is highly recommended.

On the Town is the story of three sailors on a twenty-four-hour pass from the Brooklyn Navy Yard. After the opening “I Feel Like I’m Not out of Bed Yet,” the sailors pour off the gangplank to set the tone with the famous “New York, New York” (It’s a helluva town.) ballet. The Bronx is still up and the Battery is down but for there is no “down” in the action as we are treated to a plethora of exciting song and dance.

The three sailors are played by Bryan McElroy (Gaby), Ryan Drummond (Ozzie), Mark Farrell (Chip) and their female interests are respectively, Courtney Iventosch (Ivy), Emma Goldin (Claire), Hope Mirlis (Hildy). When Gaby is looking for true love, Ozzie looking for as many ladies that strike his fancy, and inexperienced Chip wants to see as many of the fascinating sights of the Big City as described in his father’s 1934 guide book. On the subway, Gaby is smitten with the picture of Ivy/Miss Turnstiles, (“Gabey’s Comin’” and “Miss Turnstiles”) that he snitches and is set upon by a little old lady (Laurie Strawn) that no sane man would ever try to cross. The three tars each head out in different directions in an attempt to find Ivy, promising to meet in front of the Nedick’s stand on 42nd Street at 11p.m.

Chip has the good fortune to be attractive to a taxi driver Hildy who piles him into her Yellow Cab. And what a yellow cab; a converted golf cart that Mirlis tools around the stage with the skill of a Sears Point Speedway driver while all the time putting the make on Chip. (“Come Up To My Place” and later “I Can Cook Too”).

Ossie being waylaid by hot to trot Claire, who just happens to be engaged to rich, stuffy Judge Pitkin (Paul Plain), knocks down a dinosaur skeleton and they both go on the run from the museum director. Chip finally meets Ivy in a Carnegie Hall rehearsal room where she is taking singing and dancing lessons from booze sipping Madame Dilly (Laurie Strawn again). Paul Plain and Laurie Strawn are exceptional in their roles and receive extra applause from the audience for their solo stints on center stage.

The major strength and charm of On The Town are the ballet numbers and staging. Designer Robert Broadfoot has created an attractive multiple area set, keeping the center stage uncluttered allowing the chorus and ballet numbers to flow. Director Cooper does not allow the story line to lag and all the singing cast members are in good voice.

Running time 2 hours and 20 minutes with intermission.

Kedar K. Adour, MD

Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com