42nd Street, Production Company, OCt 3, 2007

42^nd Street
Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics by Al Dubin, Book by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble
Produced by The Production Company 
State Theatre, Victorian Arts Centre
Oct 3 to 7, 2007

Reviewer: Kate Herbert

42^nd Street is one of the great musicals and this production, directed by Terence O’Connell, does it justice with a valiant cast, peppy choreography and the exceptional talents of Orchestra Victoria lead by Peter Casey.

It began as a 1933 Hollywood musical and was resurrected for stage by David Merrick in 1980 with additional songs. This backstage musical is riddled with hit tunes including 42^nd Street, Lullaby of Broadway, I Only Have Eyes For You and We’re In The Money. You’ll be singing snatches of familiar songs for days.

It is a kid-from-the-sticks-makes-good story. Lucy Durack is Peggy Sawyer, a bright-eyed, tap-dancing kid from Allentown who lands a role in the chorus of Pretty Lady, a new musical by respected director, Julian Marsh (Adam Murphy). When leading lady Dorothy Brock (Nicki Wendt) breaks her leg, Peggy rockets to stardom. “You’re goin’ out there a youngster but you’ve gotta come back a star,” says Marsh.

Durack is a consummate music theatre starlet. Her voice is versatile, her tap-dancing fast and furious and she inhabits Peggy fully, playing her with cheerful confidence. In Go Into Your Dance, Peggy dances in the street with chorus girls and the bold and brassy Melissa Langton as Maggie. Their version of We’re In The Money is a cute, funny routine with echoes of the Chipmunks.

Murphy plays March with a more dour countenance and less sexiness than is usual but he is a commanding presence with a rich baritone when he sings Lullaby of Broadway and his solo of 42^nd Street.

Thern Reynolds is a vibrant and lovable Billy, Peggy’s boyish co-star, with exceptional skills in both song and dance. Christopher Horsey is particularly appealing as the tap dance director Andy Lee.

Nicki Wendt plays Dorothy as a petulant, acerbic drama queen. She sells songs such as Getting To Be A Habit With Me with zest and has impeccable comic delivery. Her lack of vocal expertise is a concern only in the subtle and romantic ballad, I Only Have Eye For You.

The chorus is captivating and make the most of Alana Scanlan’s effervescent choreography. Many enchanting moments involve the entire cast, including the opening and closing ensemble scenes of 42^nd Street and Thern Reynolds leading the chorus in Dames, a parade of dancing, singing and costumes.

By Kate Herbert