“Dames at Sea”

Recommended *** I enjoy attending plays at Theatre at The Center in Munster. It is a cozy venue, with very comfortable seating and under the leadership, both past and present, the play selection has been outstanding. Their current show is “Dames at Sea”, a spoof on all the old Donald O’Connor/Bing Crosby/Gene Kelly type films that take us into a “show biz” world where either a theater is about to close, or a starlet gets off the bus with just her dreams and by the end of the day has become a famous Broadway “Star”.  Parody, personified!

“Dames at Sea” with a book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller and music by Jim Wise, is set in the early 1930’s. Act One is at a 42nd Street Theatre and Act Two, aboard a battleship in New York Harbor. This production is staged and choreographed by the Artistic Director, who has opted to play this out with the barest of cast members, six. Yes, a musical with a cast of six that includes quite a few tap dance numbers that will amaze you. This show can be done with an ensemble of players, allowing for some chorus numbers and “big” tap numbers. The most we ever get is 12 dancing feet. However, on the small stage at TAC, this works. The show also has no orchestra, Just Conductor/piano player William Underwood and at second piano, Randy Glancy. Handling the percussion, Nick Anderson. I will say this, these three guys get it done!

The story takes place at a theater on Broadway. Rehearsals are under way for a show called “Dames At Sea”, directed by  Hennesy ( a great comic touch by Steven Stafford), The show’s star, Mona Kent ( Colette Todd plays this role to perfection) who always gets what she wants is causing Hennesey and the cast to fear that this show will never see the light. The other actress/dancer is Joan ( Sierra Schnack is divine in this role and quite a tap dancer). In comes Ruby ( a glorious characterization handled by the adorable Kelly Felthous, who will remain in this role until May 19th, when it will be taken over by Ashley Lanyon). Ruby has just arrived from Utah to make her way to stardom in New York. She does get hired to fill in as a chorus girl.

It turns out that Ruby left her suitcase on the bus terminal floor and a young sailor, Dick ( deftly handled by Todd Aulwurm) who is also a songwriter, brings her the case and instantly falls in love with her. Mona, hearing his songs, decides that she prefers his music to that in the show, and  sets her sights on grabbing the songs to make her shine once more. Meanwhile, Lucky, another sailor ( Sam Shankman) comes to the theater to see where Dick is and finds that his old flame, Joan is in this show.

We find that the show is in deep financial trouble and the theater itself is being torn down for a new structure. Dick wants his songs done and so they all plan to save the show by doing it aboard the battleship in the harbor. They only need to get the Captain’s okay. The Captain is a secondary role for Stafford ( who proves to be quite the talent in taking on two completely different characters). He is a wealthy, “mamas-boy” who had a huge crush on Mona, so she wraps him around her little finger, and the show goes on.

Yes, it is “hokey” with a CAPITAL H! Theatre at The Center never promised you a “rose garden”, only an entertaining evening, and this they have produced for all. The show lasts less than two hours including a 15 minute intermission and has some delightful numbers such as, “Broadway Baby”, “Choo-Choo Honeymoon”, “Raining In My Heart”, “There’s Something About You”, “Wall Street”, “Good Times Are Here To Stay” and the finale, “Let’s Have A Simple Wedding”. There are more and each and every song has a little dance to it. The tap numbers are extraordinary. While the numbers never quite have the impoact of “42nd Street”, the show that it truly parodies, this energetic and talented cast, truly entertains us and we walk away from the theater with a warm feeling and a smile on our faces. What else can you expect?

On the technical side of the show, the set (Jessie Howe) is very workable, the lighting (Guy Rhodes) , awesome and the sound (Barry G. Funderburg) solid. The costumes ( Brenda Winstead) are classical 30’s/40’s Broadway, flashy and bright and the wigs (Kevin Barthel) amazing!

This is not one to write home about, but a solid evening of entertainment that is uplifting and filled with talented performers. I love a good tap dance number, and in this production, there are many!

“Dames At Sea” will continue thru June 2nd with a schedule:

Price: $42 – $46

Show Type: Musical

Box Office: 219-836-3255

www.theatreatthecenter.com   plenty of free parking and a delightful gift shop and art gallery.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Dames At Sea”

Munster is not that far. In fact, from Wheeling, our journey was one hour on the button with a 10 minute stop for gas ( we skipped Munster Donuts). Less than downtown, and the trip home , about the same.