SALT LAKE CITY — The Drowsy Chaperone, with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and book by Bob Martin and Don McKeller, is a delightful romp through the magic and glamor of 20th century Broadway. The musical features larger-than-life characters that act as both a parody of and a tribute to classic musical theatre. A character known only as “The Man in the Chair” (played by Jason Campbell) guides the audience through his favorite record, a fictional 1928 musical called the Drowsy Chaperone. The musical comes to life in his apartment and follows the “mishaps” and “mayhem” that ensue during the wedding of starlet Janet van de Graaff (played by Morgan Fenner) and oil tycoon Robert Martin (played by Clayton Barney).
Campbell is a quirky and comedic Man in the Chair, his opening monologue and constant breaking of the fourth wall winning lots of laughs from the audience. He never left the stage, but did an excellent job at knowing when to draw attention to himself and when to focus it onto other characters. Campbell had many wonderful comedic moments, but as the only real character in this show full of farcical caricatures, I frequently found myself wishing for more grounded, vulnerable, and “real” moments from this character.
Show closes September 14.
Janet and Robert were played by real-life couple Morgan Fenner and Clayton Barney, and the moments they shared onstage were very sweet. Fenner sparkled with charm and character as Janet, “showing off” a captivating presence that lent itself well to the glamorous showgirl. Barney displayed rich vocals in the numbers “Cold Feet” and “Accident Waiting to Happen”—especially impressive since he was tap dancing in one of them (along with his best man George, played by Luke Logan) and rollerskating in the other.
Lauren Slagowski shone as the titular Drowsy Chaperone, with the magnetic presence and domineering energy necessary for the “well-established” star character. She showcased rich and sultry vocals in her rousing anthem “As We Stumble Along”; and her over-the-top comedy felt natural and motivated in its zaniness.
This cast also had a number of stand-out actors in smaller roles. Natalie Wren brought stunningly bright vocals and comedic timing as Kitty, the ditzy chlorine. Wren’s scenes with Doug Caldwell as Feldzieg, and Steve Shoemaker and Kaltin Kirby as the Gangsters were some of the funniest in the show, with wonderful chemistry and physical comedy. Kacee Neff was a powerhouse as Trix the Aviatrix, only appearing twice in the show, but wowing with her rich and powerful vocals. Jeffrey Black as Underling delivered some of the best jokes in the show in a brilliant dead-pan that had me laughing out loud. The ensemble had a wonderfully clear and blended sound and brought a lot of fun moments, particularly when they danced around the stage as monkeys in “Bride’s Lament.”
The production design did a fantastic job creating an immersive world and paying homage to the classics. Set design by Halee Rasmussen showed the very lived-in apartment of the theatre-loving Man in the Chair, with musical posters on the walls and magnets and clutter on the fridge. This realistic apartment provided entertaining contrast to the spectacularly over-the-top characters interacting with it. Some particularly fun examples were when characters entered from a window, fridge, or secret compartment in the wall. This immersive world was also found in the sound design by Joe Killian. Before and after the show, instrumental versions of golden age musical theatre songs softly played from the record player, which I thought was a very nice touch.
A couple of things to note before you grab your tickets. This show runs for about 90 minutes with no intermission. Make sure you use the restroom and get any concessions you need before the top of the show, because you won’t have another chance until the show ends. Also, this show contains moments with some raunchy and mature humor. Much of this is subtle and will likely go over younger audience members’ heads, but it is something to be aware of before bringing the whole family.
Just like the Man in the Chair, this show allows the audience to escape into the decadent world of musical theatre for an evening. Even more importantly, it “gives you a little tune to carry in your head for when you’re feeling blue.” If you want a fun evening with a charming cast, make sure to check out The Drowsy Chaperone at the Grand Theatre.
These reviews are made possible by a grant from the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks program.
