Dames at Sea

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DAMES AT SEA

Photo: Jeremy Daniel

Cititour.com Review
In a world of musical blockbusters like “Hamilton” and “Wicked,” can the decidedly delightful but inarguably featherweight “Dames at Sea” really survive on Broadway? Only time will tell, but I suggest those who love lots of tap dancing, old-fashioned tunes, and a touch of camp get down to the Helen Hayes Theatre on the double.

First seen Off-Broadway in 1968 (where it ran for two years), this confection by Jim Wise (music) and George Haimsohn and Robin Miller (book and lyrics) is an affectionate homage, and slight send-up, of those silly backstage-set movie musicals of the 1930s. The thin-as-air plot concerns the putting on of a musical called “Dames at Sea,” which manages to lose its ingénue and theater on opening night, and whose fortunes are rescued by fresh-off-the-bus actress Ruby (Eloise Kropp) and sailor buddies Dick (Cary Tedder) and Lucky (Danny Gardner).

These three young performers are all fine singers and remarkable dancers – you’ll gasp as they execute director Randy Skinner’s breathtaking (and breathless) choreographers – but they do lack a bit of star power. (One can only imagine how sublime the young Bernadette Peters was as Ruby). Still, each gets a real chance to shine in such numbers as “The Sailor of My Dreams,” “It’s You,” “Singapore Sue,” and “Star Tar.”

But there really is no substitute for experience. Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita (last seen across the street in “Matilda”) as the demanding diva Mona Kent basically stops the show in its opening number, “Wall Street,” and continues to steal scene after scene with her deliberately scenery-chewing and often hilarious antics. She’s matched laugh for laugh by the great John Bolton, who doubles effortlessly as constantly exasperated producer Hennessey and surprisingly romantic ship head, Captain Courageous. And the ultra-leggy Mara Davi shows off both her considerable dancing and acting chops as sassy chorine Joan.

Set designer Anna Louizos cleverly manages to do more-with-less, including a nifty moment at the end of Act I, and a major set change for Act II, while costumer David C. Willard proves the master of the quick-change time and time again. And special kudos to music supervisor and conductor Rob Berman and sound designer Scott Lehrer for making the small orchestra sound bigger than it is.

“Good Times Are Here to Stay,” sings the cast at the end of the first act. I hope that’s true for their sake, but “Dames at Sea” is definitely a true sink-or-swim proposition in the current world of Broadway economics.
By Brian Scott Lipton


Visit the Site
http://damesatseabroadway.com

Cast
John Bolton, Mara Davi, Danny Gardner, Eloise Kropp, Lesli Margherita, Cary Tedder

Open/Close Dates
Opening 10/22/2015
Closing 1/3/2016

Preview Open/ Preview Close Dates
Preview Opening 9/24/2015
Closing Open-ended

Box Office
212-239-6200

Theatre Info
Hayes Theatre
240 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10036
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