On the Twentieth Century
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Cititour.com Review
Will the egomaniacal, devious, and decidedly lovestruck theatrical impresario Oscar Jaffe convince his former flame, the vain, tempestuous Oscar-winning actress Lily Garland (nee Mildred Plotka) that Mary Magdalene is the role she was “born to play” in order to get her back into his life, professionally and personally?
That trivial question may lie at the hilarious heart of the 1977 musical comedy “On the Twentieth Century,” but Scott Ellis’ champagne-sparkling revival of this Cy Coleman-Betty-Comden-Adolph Green work, now at the Roundabout’s American Airlines Theatre, answers a far more important query: Was Tony (and Emmy) winner Kristin Chenoweth truly “born to play” Lily Garland?
Yes, indeedy! In the finest Broadway performance of her memorable 15+ year career, this almost ageless pixie unleashes every arrow in her considerable arsenal with deadly aim: precise comic timing, a dazzling operatic soprano, and a willingness to go to any length for a laugh or ovation. While she’s sure to face some considerable competition this award season (including Chita Rivera and Kelli O’Hara), don’t be surprised if Chenoweth amasses a bevy of shiny trophies in her tiny hands by June 7.
Luckily for her – and for us – while Chenoweth may be the raison d’etre for this remounting, she’s surrounded by plenty of other good “raisons” to run and buy a ticket to this outing. Peter Gallagher is a more-than-sturdy Oscar, capturing the man’s dramatic sense of self-grandeur, while remaining ever-so-slightly grounded. His lovely baritone, while not exactly booming, does justice to Oscar’s big songs “I Rise Again” and “Because of Her”. True, he and Chenoweth don’t exactly sizzle romantically, but since the plot’s happy ending is never really in doubt, it’s a minor quibble.
As he did with his recent revival of another screwball classic, “You Can’t Take It with You,” Ellis masterfully casts the main supporting roles. The ultra-winning Andy Karl shows off both his remarkable musculature and a surprisingly strong gift for physical comedy as Lily’s “devoted” lover, actor Bruce Granit; Michael McGrath and Mark Linn-Baker bring their patented, priceless comic flair to Oscar’s beleaguered “musketeers,” Owen O’Malley and Oliver Webb, and the eternally-brilliant Mary Louise Wilson delivers a deliciously daffy turn as religious fanatic Letitia Peabody Primrose. And can we say enough about those four fabulous porters (Rick Faugno, Richard Riaz Yoder, Phillip Attimore, Drew King), who wow the crowd every time they take center stage executing Warren Carlyle’s thrilling tap choreography?
The Roundabout has also given the show’s designers ample opportunities to shine. The great David Rockwell outdoes himself, from the magnificent stage curtain to the on-stage choo-choo (which appears from a variety of angles), while the veteran costumer William Ivey Long once again impresses with his 1930s-styled creations, culminating in a breathtaking all-white sequence. Donald Holder’s lighting, Larry Hochman’s orchestrations (for the admittedly reduced orchestra), and Paul Huntley’s wigs are equally deserving of high praise.
If the question of why “Twentieth Century” has never made it to the pantheon of great musicals, the answer is also evident here: the lack of a super-memorable song, and the fact that the score – even at its best – sometimes unnecessarily interrupts the show’s screwball feel (inherent in the original Ben Hecht-Charles McArthur script.) But so what? You’d be a fool not to hop aboard and go along for this dizzying, dazzling ride while you can.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/On-the-Twentieth-Century.aspx
Cast
Kristin Chenoweth, Peter Gallagher, Andy Karl, Mark Linn-Baker, Michael McGrath, Mary Louise Wilson, Phillip Attmore, Justin Bowen, Preston Truman Boyd, Paula Leggett Chase, Ben Crawford, Rick Faugno, Jennifer Foote, Bahiyah Hibah, Drew King, Analisa Leaming, Kevin Ligon, Erica Mansfield, James Moye, Linda Mugleston, Mamie Parris, Andy Taylor, Jim Walton, Richard Riaz Yoder
Open/Close Dates
Opening 3/12/2015
Closing 7/19/2015
Preview Open/ Preview Close Dates
Preview Opening 2/13/2015
Closing Open-ended
Box Office
212-719-1300
Theatre Info
American Airlines Theatre
227 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
Map
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