This 1966 parody of 1930s Busby Berkeley–style movie musicals is so sweet and light it makes Mel Brooks’s parodies look profound. The story is pure Hollywood fluff—bright-eyed girl from the sticks (in this case Utah) comes to bad old New York, New York, to make it on Broadway. And she does, after a few predictable twists. The tunes (book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller, music by Jim Wise) are clever send-ups of 1920s and 1930s tunes (“That Mister Man of Mine” for “The Man I Love,” “Good Times Are Here to Stay” for “Happy Days Are Here Again,” and so on). No wonder this show continues to be produced 58 years after it opened off-off-Broadway at the legendary Caffe Cino (with subsequent, noteworthy off-Broadway and Broadway productions).
Dames at Sea
Through 12/15: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM; also Wed 11/27 and 12/11 1 PM; no shows Thu 11/28 and 12/12; Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan, Lake Forest, 847-735-8554, ext. 1, citadeltheatre.org, $45
Not all of the charm of Dames at Sea is apparent in Citadel Theatre’s unevenly cast, unpolished production. Some of the performances are great. Ciara Jarvis plays Mona, the show’s B-word diva, with just the right dash of Barbara Stanwyck hardness. Melody Rowland shines and shines as the Ruby Keeler-ish new kid on the block (named Ruby, in fact), just a stage mishap away from “going out there a kid and coming back a star.” But too many of the supporting performers lack Jarvis and Rowland’s energy, comic timing, and stage presence to make this show soar. It is thrilling that director and choreographer Gregg Dennhardt was able to fill the show with so many fabulous top dancers. Too bad parodies can’t live on tap alone.
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