‘Music Hall Around the World ’ worth the trip
A collection of musical numbers, d jokes with something for everyone
It’s one thing to mount a play. It’s quite another to create, rehearse, choreograph, design costumes and perform Drury Lane’s 42nd Annual Music Hall. This year’s incarnation is entitled “Music Hall Around the World,” and it runs until March 26.
In case you’re wondering what, exactly, a Music Hall is, it’s a collection of musical numbers, medleys, skits and jokes. Clearly, this has been a popular format through the decades both with audiences and performers — May Farquhar, Carrie Mines and Michael Belton are in their 35th, 21st and 26th appearances respectively.
So what makes this format so endearing?
Well, there’s literally something for everyone. And, in this production, it’s done at a high level of competency.
The Misses, who are Farquhar, Mines, Melody Rasmussen, Anne Kelly, Jennifer Welosky, Margaret Moir and standout Sheila Flis, can really sing. So, too, can the Misters (Bill Everett, Shane Brenton, Greg Porter and Don Montgomery). Sprinkle in some great choreography by Lauren Shepherd and we’ve got a fun night.
The show kicks off with “Tin Pan Alley Follies,” performed by the Misses and Misters who look like they’ve come from the Roaring ’20s, and at the first break we’re introduced to the (Scottish) Chairman (Belton) — cue the “under the kilt” jokes. Belton’s job is to entertain us between the pieces, and he mostly does so with Dad jokes — “I went to the doctor and he said I was getting old. I told him I wanted a second opinion. He said, ‘you’re also ugly.’”
Belton tells the audience we can boo and hiss and these special powers are relished often for his jokes. Fortunately, when one sounds like it might be going down a long and winding road towards inappropriate, Belton draws us back, before delivering the (often groan-worthy) punch line.
Mary Buzzelli and her costume team, which includes Eleanor Cooke and Sue Thurley, had their work cut out for them.
At times, bare bones and simple works. For example, the Misses and Misters wear Beatles shirts during Beatlemania, a 15-plus song mash up of Beatles hits that rival Pitch
Perfect Riff Offs. At others, we need vibrancy and detail — the Misses’ layered skirts during “Paris Frills and Thrills/Can Can” and the spoton Groucho Marx, Mae West, Scarlett O’Hara and Zorro et al in “If I Were Not Upon the Stage” — and she delivers.
A huge shout out to the Misters for their courage to wear plaid a la the Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time” video in “Buffalo Herd
Meets Gitarzan,” as well as their seedy outfits during “Kabaret das Berlin Klub.”
While the Around the World theme isn’t easy to identify, some of the songs aren’t either.
While most people have heard of Barbra Streisand, anyone under 50 is likely not that familiar with her music.
Hear me out: a future Music Hall featuring Disney’s biggest hits or Songs of the New Millennium.
Because of the unknown songs, the show drags at times.
And, at nearly 2-1/2 hours, it’s too long. Some scenes could be cut entirely. Few of the “Laugh-In” jokes are actually funny, and when we’ve
frequent a rabbit, fox and a gerbil went into a bar-type jokes, they’re unnecessary.
Special guests Dave Osborne and Claire Campbell’s performance of “Master of the House” from Les
Misérables, helps to raise the energy level and the final “Pearly Kings & Queens: Drury Lane Royalty,” which features everyone on stage simultaneously, is a great reminder that while the audience might have been a tad jet lagged by the end of this trip around the world, it was worth embarking on the voyage.
The “Barbra Streisand Medley” features, from left to right, (back row) Sheila Flis, May Farquhar, Margaret Moir and (front row) Melody Rasmussen, Jennifer Welosky, Anne Kelly and Carrie Mines. HEATHER PIERORAZIO PHOTOS