Photo Courtesy of encore! theater
FOND REGARDS. The cast of “Give My Regards to Broadway”: (back row, left to right) Peter Best, Carla Lawson, Katiedawn Leacy, Alex Ropes, Samantha Lobberegt, Michelle DeShon, Terri Fisher; (front row, left to right) Teri DeShon, Dave Michalski, Chris Riker.
Encore! Theater’s production of “Give My Regards to Broadway” is an entertaining if disjointed affair – like a collage whose various elements do not altogether harmonize with one another.
The musical by George M. Cohan is set behind the scenes of a financially strapped Broadway theater run by Dick Foster (Chris Riker). The main storyline concerns the scramble for money in order to ensure that the show goes on. Grafted onto this story are such disparate elements as a Depression era mob turf war, patriotic musical numbers (“Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “Grand Old Flag,” for example), WWI era imagery and an ample portion of tap dancing.
Into this mix of gangsters, chorus girls and theater types comes Mary Collins (Samantha Lobberegt), the wholesome yet talented small town girl who finds herself propelled to stardom after she overcomes the machinations of Mona Monroe (Wendy Coville), the vain and greedy starlet who seeks to oust Mary once financial backing for the show has miraculously arrived.
Encore! Theater’s “Give My Regards to Broadway” is in large part a showcase for the talents of Lobberegt whose lush, full voice enriches every musical number in which she is a participant.
Lobberegt is backed up by the abilities of the actresses who play the chorus girls. As Trixi Sticks, Teri DeShon seems to channel the cartoon character Betty Boop. Michelle DeShon, as air-headed Flossie, lends comic relief as does the physical antics of Terri Fisher (as Hilda) and Katiedawn Leacy (as Millie).
The male performances are more low-key than those of the ladies. Dave Michalski, however, is enthusiastic in his portrayal of the gangster-bookie Legs Ruby and Grant Troyer does well as the curt business school student Donald Harper. Peter Best also plays a believable Mugsy, the threatening mobster.
The production moves along to the “clickety-clack” of the tap dancers’ shoes and ascends to some brilliant moments such as Lobberegt’s solo performances.
Another visually interesting scene comes near the end of the show. Here, in a WWI era war hospital, the chorus girls first appear dressed as nurses. Then, as the music rises, they tear away their nurse aprons to reveal short skirts of red, white and blue sequins. Dawning sparkling Uncle Sam top hats they sing and dance in a grand spectacle while Riker sits in his wheelchair.
In sum, Encore! Theater’s “Give My Regards to Broadway” makes for an entertaining and lively evening set in the intimate venue of this small, community theater.
