Just Jim Dale
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Cititour.com Review
The title of “Just Jim Dale,” the delightful new entertainment at the Roundabout at Laura Pels Theatre, is misleading in a couple of ways. First (and less importantly), it’s not just Dale on Anna Louizos’ simply-designed stage; the Tony-winning actor is joined by first-rate pianist Mark York. But more importantly, “just” implies that what we’ll get is merely adequate. Hardly. The 78-year-old actor has more talent, charisma, and physical energy than the cast of some 40-person Broadway shows! So as exhausted as Dale may be at the end of the piece, this 100-minute diversion (smoothly directed by Richard Maltby Jr.) just flies by for the audience.
The show, biographical in nature and told in quasi-linear fashion, smartly hits upon many of the highlights of Dale’s long career, sometimes in unexpected ways. His stories of his very early career in the English music hall as a child, followed by a few-year-stint as a British teen idol pop star – discovered by the legendary George Martin – are enchanting and often hilarious. So is his re-creation of his audition of for the producer – and his associates – of the movie “Georgy Girl,” for which Dale co-wrote the Oscar-nominated title song.
Broadway aficionados will be pleased that Dale delivers a delicious anecdote about “Scapino,” his first show on the Great White Way, incorporates three songs from his megahit “Barnum” (including the tongue-twisting “The Museum Song,” which he can still put forth at lightning-fast speed), as well as croons the charming title tune from “Me and My Girl.”
Even more impressive are Dale’s dramatic gifts, beautifully displayed when he delivers the devastating final monologue of Noel Coward’s little-known “Fumed Oak” and the harrowing opening monologue of Peter Nichols’ “Joe Egg” (which earned him his third Tony nomination.) There’s also a brilliant sequence during which Dale reminds us just how much effect William Shakespeare has had on our everyday conversations.
And yes, fans of “Harry Potter,” you haven’t been completely forgotten. While there isn’t a dramatic reading from these popular novels, Dale’s tale of the mishaps during his very first recording session of the audiobook series is better than anything J.K. Rowling ever wrote!
To paraphrase another song from “Barnum,” the colors of Jim Dale’s life are indeed bountiful and bold. We’re lucky he’s given us such a wondrous showcase to view them.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/Just-Jim-Dale.aspx
Cast
Jim Dale
Open/Close Dates
Opening 5/15/2014
Closing 8/10/2014
Box Office
212-719-1300
Theatre Info
Laura Pels Theatre
111 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
Map
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