The Prom - Sharon Playhouse

Kate Baldwin is delivering a not-to-miss performance as the self-absorbed thespian Dee Dee Allen in the Sharon Playhouse’s outstanding production of The Prom.  The actress, a two-time Tony Award nominee, serves up a master class in musical comedy acting.  She, along with her marvelous castmates, make this a must-see summer show.  Don’t dawdle.  The Prom closes on Sunday, August 11.

 

The musical is a popularly produced regional show (another production is running at Playhouse in Park in West Hartford through August 18.  Some of the descriptive information in this review is taken from the that production).

 

The Prom, based on a true event, centers on Emma, a lesbian high school student in smalltown Indiana, who just wants to attend her year ending prom with her girlfriend.  The local PTA, however, does not approve and promptly cancels the event for everyone.  Enter Dee Dee Allen and Barry Glickman, two narcissistic Broadway performers; Trent Oliver, an out-of-work actor; and Angie Dickinson, a lifelong chorus woman.  Seeking a cause to elevate their likability quotient, they zero in on Emma and her plight.  Arriving in mid-America, they cause more mayhem and turmoil as they attempt to “rescue” Emma from her disconsolate situation.  In the end, after much angst and soul-searching, there is happiness and an amenable resolution for all.

 

The book by Bob Martin (Tony Award winner for The Drowsy Chaperone and Chad Beguelin) is very funny with a number of musical theater references and asides to delight Broadway musical aficionados.  They have crafted characters which, in the beginning, appear stereotypical, but by the show’s end have grown to become fully developed, sympathetic and even kind individuals.

 

The quartet of actors seeking to “save” Emma display an excellent rapport and chemistry that lifts all their performances.  While consistently uproarious in their portrayals of the down-and-out Broadway veterans, they also convincingly layer their portrayals with pathos and honesty.  In addition to Kate Baldwin, there is John Scherer (Barry Glickman), who gives an appropriate, over-the-top portrayal that is truly inspiring.  His comic chops make every scene he’s in an outlandish triumph.   Danny Drewes, a frequent performer on Connecticut stages, is first-rate as the self-loving, perpetually optimistic Trent Oliver.  Savannah Stevenson, the more subdued member of the foursome, nonetheless, provides ample clowning and wit as the leggy Angie Dickinson.

 

Hannah Jane Moore, a recent Hartt School graduate, imbues the character of Emma with resolve and fortitude.  Her performance may not be as nuanced as her more seasoned co-stars, but her singing prowess matches any of the other performers.  She has a strong and beautiful voice.

 

The featured cast deserving mention include Sophie Nassiri Morvillo, as Alyssa Greene, Emma’s secret love interest; Erick Pinnick, the sensible, good-natured school principal Mr. Hawkins; and Ryan J. Palmer, as Sheldon, PR man to the would-be stars.  A nod also needs to go to the gregarious teen ensemble, which enlivens many scenes in the musical.

 

The music and lyrics by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, who also wrote the scores for Elf and The Wedding Singer, are tuneful, mostly humorous numbers, superbly performed by the topnotch cast.  Songs are upbeat (“You Happened,” “Tonight Belongs to You,” and “Barry is Going to Prom”), full of heartfelt emotion (“Unruly Heart” and “Just Breathe”) and contain a dash of sass (“The Lady’s Improving” and “Zazz.”).   The pit band, under the direction of Music Director Eric Thomas Johnson, provides energizing accompaniment.  Graham Stone’s Sound Design is clean and crisp, allowing for the performers to be heard without effort and not to be overpowered by the music. 

 

Director Carl Andress moves the production along at a brisk, lighthearted pace, allowing the performers to emote, whine, and pontificate without bogging down the action.  He skillfully incorporates Choreographer Krystyna Resavy’s stage-filling, vibrant dance routines into the show, which is best exemplified by the crowd-pleasing, full-throttled numbers “You Happened” and “Love Thy Neighbor.”  Ms. Resavy demonstrates her dexterity in the solo tour-de-force “Barry Is Going to Prom,” performed by Mr. Scherer, and the quiet, razz-ma-tazz duet “Zazz,” with Ms. Stevenson and Moore.

 

The Scenic Design by Christopher and Justin Swader provides for quick scene turnarounds.  The costumes designed by Kathleen Deangelis, especially those for the Dee Dee Allen character, are flamboyant, campy, and glamorous.

 

The Prom, terrific musical theater entertainment, playing at the Sharon Playhouse through August 11.  Click here for dates, times, and ticket information.