I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying the big, bright, sassy revival of Mame, running through July 7 at Goodspeed Opera House. If you have a chance to go, take it! It's a first-rate musical comedy, presented with zest. You rarely see shows this well constructed. The book scenes, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, are deftly written—very funny, with moments of poignancy. And Jerry Herman's score is a succession of delights. The 24-person cast—directed by Ray Roderick, choreographed by Vince Pesce, and supported by an eight-piece orchestra conducted by Michael Flaherty—performs with gusto. The singing, the dancing—great fun! The casting is not quite perfect, but the character of Auntie Mame is unusually hard to cast. You really need someone larger than life. And her “bosom buddy,” Vera Charles, has to be able to keep up with her. I saw the superb Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur in the original Broadway cast, and they each had a certain star quality and mastery of comic timing that is missing here. Louise Pitre (Mame) and Judy Blazer (Vera) are both good—rather than great—but occasionally feel too contemporary. But this musical comedy is generally so strong (and director Roderick knows how to keep the momentum going) that this production is highly entertaining—even without ideal stars. Among supporting players, I might add that Kristen Wyatt (whom I'd enjoyed very much last season at Goodspeed in My One and Only—also directed by Roderick) is as good an Agnes Gooch as you'll ever hope to see. If this show is again revived on Broadway—and it should be—she’d be just right. The lavish costumes by Gregg Barnes and fine sets by James Youmans add to the pleasure.
(Pictured: Louise Pitre and Judy Blazer; photo by Diane Sobolewski)
Chip Deffaa
Cabaret Scenes
May 9, 2012
www.cabaretscenes.org
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