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JC Players present ‘Legally Blonde, the Musical’
‘Desperate Measures’ a throwback to musicals of long ago
BY GREGG SULLIVAN
Ever watch those old black-and-white
Depression-era musicals from the 1930s
with Dick Powell, Joan Blondell and
Ruby Keeler like “Footlight Parade,”
“Gold Diggers of 1933” or “42nd Street,”
or “Broadway Melody of 1940” with
Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell and George
Murphy?
Have you ever been delighted by the
beautifully politically incorrect innocence
of plot lines from those less judgmental
times gone by that accepted bad behavior
and made you laugh at the humanity
in us all?
Did you ever just want to chuck all the
P.C. and return to the classic old movie
and Broadway musical whose sole purpose
was to help you escape from your
troubles, if just for a few hours, elevate
your spirits, refresh your belief in mankind
and leave you singing?
Well, now’s your chance to experience
that again with Peter Kellogg’s
smash off -Broadway hit the critics are
all raving about and that’s scooping up
all the coveted awards like the Drama
Desk Awards for Best Music and Best
Lyrics, the Outer Critics Circles Best Off
Broadway Musical of 2018 Award and the
OBA (Off -Broadway Alliance) Award for
Best Musical.
“Desperate Measures,” a loose take on
Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure,” is
a whimsical mix of those great feel-good
movie musical formulas with a little burlesque
plus rhyming couplet and iambic
pentameter dialogue. Th ese elements
are seamlessly blends into 18 amazing
songs written by David Friedman in a
Cole Porter style that has you leaving the
theater replaying them over and over in
your head.
Played by a perfectly cast ensemble, the
musical centers around the love between
Johnny Blood, a cowboy sentenced to
hang (played by an unforgettable Conor
Ryan) and Bella, the saloon harlot (played
by the fearless Lauren Molina). Bella
sleeps with the strict German governor
(played masterfully by Nick Wyman) to
gain his pardon in a bedroom switcheroo
escapade. Th e escapade is orchestrated by
the local sheriff (played by a very talented
and statuesque Peter Saide) and Johnny
Blood’s soon-to-be-nun sister (played by
the mesmerizingly sweet Sarah Parnicky,
who’s got an acting depth and vocal range
Broadway producers dream of).
With scenes reminiscent of a Lucille
Ball or Marx Brothers movie, the screwball
script includes a very likable alcoholic
priest (played by Gary Marachek)
who’s obsessed with the atheistic teaching
of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Th e
show has the audience laughing and singing
along with the actors and cheering in
appreciation for the cast’s outstanding
voices during every song. Th e audience
rises to their feet at the end of every performance
in standing ovations. Th is show
delivers everything and more than you
could hope for. It’s a thoroughly delightful,
award-winning play.
Extended for the fourth time (that tells
you something right there), the musical
is at the New World Stages on West 50th
street through October. Treat yourself and
go see it, just so I can say “I told you so.”
What does it take to litigate a murder
at a cutthroat law school? For jilted
Elle Woods, just bring your killer smile,
pink outfi ts “to die for” and a personality
that slays. You are now a duly sworn witness
for the JC Players’ version of “Legally
Blonde, the Musical.”
As expected, director Barbara
Auriemma and husband Frank
Auriemma, music director, deliver a
crisp, clever version of this very popular
musical comedy. Choreographers
Christine Hinz and Jessica Helton off er
bright, energetic, seemingly eff ortless
interactions throughout the evening.
Th is modern musical fable is all about
beautiful, blonde sorority queen Elle
Woods. She is unceremoniously dumped
by her narcissistic boyfriend who is heading
for Harvard law school. With tutoring
from Kate (Michelle Meditz), she follows
him to college as a full-fl edged student!
Her surprising victories and lots of
music provide an outstanding evening of
entertainment.
On opening night, Sara Svezia in the
title role is absolutely disarming and
extremely watchable. She has mastered
every nuance of her role with charm, elegance
and humor. Brava! Her blue-blooded
enemies are well played by tough Enid
(Christine Hinz), vindictive Vivienne
(Virginia Harmon) and clueless Warner
(Navin Das). Th e ruthless professor
Callahan is played with a perfectly sinister
attitude by local favorite Mark York.
Some good guys include Elle’s compassionate,
corduroy clad rescuer Emmett
(Th om Harmon). Th e likable beautician
Paulette (Donna Falzon) steals the
show with her brassy but good-natured
attitude. She is unabashedly smitten by
delivery guy Kyle (Anthony Faubion).
Elle’s dancing and singing sorority sisters
appear throughout the show. Kudos
to Jessica Helton, Jennifer Silverman and
Megan Gonzalez.
At the trial, fi tness guru Brooke (Alicia
Brosky) faces off against spoiled stepdaughter
Chutney (Hannah Brown).
Alerted by confi dent cues from the judge
(Melanie Pozarycki), perhaps Nikos
(Matthew Mucha) and Carlos (Charles
P. Hinz) may not be reliable witnesses
aft er all!
Almost a dozen performers portray several
roles with expertise. Applause for
Matthew Ahrens, Guy Caraturo, Amy
Ellis, Joanna Freda, Charles Hinz, Nicole
King, Amanda Mikol, Dennis Popp and
Ellen Rosenberg. Well-deserved bows for
stage manager Jess Ronzo, lighting coordinators
Christopher Brosky and Robert
Pozarycki and backstage support from
Mackenzie Cashman and others.
For information on this and future
productions, call 917-647-7526, surf to
www.jcplayers.com or “like” them on
Facebook. As always, save me a seat on
the aisle.
A VIEW FROM
THE CLIFF
BY CLIFF KASDEN
/www.•
/www.jcplayers.com
