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'Crazy for You' opens at the Engeman Theater
Extravaganza features top-notch cast and musical show stoppers
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Although 70 years have passed since his "Follies" graced the stage, there's a reason why Florenz Ziegfeld remains a Broadway legend. His over-the-top musical productions, featuring bevies of beautiful showgirls, were nothing short of spectacular.
Audiences will be reminded of these unforgettable glory days when they see "Crazy for You" at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport.
The musical, based on a book by Ken Ludwig, features the music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin, one of America's most remarkable songwriting teams.
Ludwig, the playwriting genius behind "Lend Me a Tenor," has breathed new life into the Gershwin musical, "Girl Crazy," elevating it to a timeless flight of fancy resonating with romance and humor. While the seven songs come from the 1930 classic, Gershwin tunes from "A Damsel in Distress," "Treasure Girl," "Ladies First" and "Shall We Dance" provide additional pizzazz.
Not surprisingly, the show received top honors when it debuted in 1992, including Tony, Laurence Olivier and Drama Desk awards for best musical and choreography.
The "Crazy For You" cast clearly tap-danced their way into theatergoers' hearts at the first Saturday night performance, garnering one of the longest standing ovations to date.
The plot follows the antics of Bobby Child, a rich boy who is more interested in Broadway than banking. When he fails to impress Bela Zangler of Zangler Follies with his tap-dancing routine, Bobby agrees to do his mother's bidding and goes West to foreclose on the rundown Gaiety Theater.
Although he is engaged to Irene, a high maintenance prima donna, it is love at first sight when Bobby encounters Polly Baker, the only single woman living in Deadrock, Nevada, a dried up mining town which has seen better days.
Bobby comes up with the idea of putting on a play to raise mortgage money, but his prospects for romance go awry when Polly learns that the New Yorker has been sent to close down her father's theater.
When, in hopes of somehow righting the situation, Bobby disguises himself as Zangler, the hilarity that ensues is multiplied tenfold when the real Hungarian theatrical mogul shows up.
Eric Santagata (Bobby) Pilar Millhollen (Polly) and Brian Gonzales (Zangler) headline one of Engeman's most superlative casts to date, and you will be astounded with the layers of talent that are revealed as each player eventually takes the spotlight.
Charismatic romantic leads, Santagata and Millhollen are top-notch dancers whose partnership resonates with an easy familiarity. Santagata's tap-dancing ability is particularly stunning.
Their gift for song shines in memorable showstoppers including "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Embraceable You," "I Got Rhythm," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," and "They Can't Take That Away From Me."
Santagata's mirror image duet with Gonzales — "What Causes That?" — which takes place when the paths of the real Zangler and the impostor collide, makes for side-splitting comedy.
Michael Sample is ideal as the rough-around-the-edges saloon keeper, Lank Hawkins, while Erin Mosher dishes out surprises as Irene, Bobby's put-upon fiancée. You'll also love Richard Rowan and Joan St. Onge as the British tourists who wander into town, and John Cormier, Beau Landry and Shaver Tillitt, the harmonizing cowhands.
Major kudos go to the design team of Michael Bottari and Ronald Case who make use of the stage's full height, giving the space a majestic quality.
Their designs, which were three months in the making, effectively contrast a stylized art deco vision of New York with the more heavily nuanced, earth-toned Deadrock.
In the 1930s, barns and other wooden structures were prime advertising sites, and the team incorporated this historical tidbit into their Deadrock set, Bottari noted.
Bottari said that he and Case harked back to Ziegfeld's original concept of glorifying the American girl in creating glamorous, jewel-tone costumes for Tess (Amanda Kloots-Larsen) and the other statuesque showgirls.
Kudos also go to Vic DiMonda, for recreating Susan Stroman's impeccable choreography, and to lighting designer Martin Vreeland, whose masterful work conveys dimension and depth.
Conductor Donny Jones and his orchestra do an outstanding job in bringing the Gershwin classics to life.
The work of sound designer Katherine Miller, and hair and wig designer Mark Adam Rampmeyer is also exemplary.
Director Alan Souza, and casting director Stephen DeAngelis deserve the highest praise for bringing what can only be described as a theatrical masterpiece to the Engeman stage.
"Crazy For You" runs through August 16, but it would be advisable to buy tickets early as this show might very well sell out. The Engeman Theater is located at 250 Main St., Northport Village. Tickets can be purchased at the theater's box office, by calling 261-2900 or by visiting www.engemantheater.com.
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