Top 5 reasons to see 'Can-Can' at 42nd St. Moon (Minor Spoilers only)


Amongst them: charming star, thrilling score and surprisingly contemporary moments

Last night I saw the final Preview of 42nd St. Moon's production of Cole Porter's "Can-Can."

As I like to do when reviewing shows with which I have a connection, I will simply give you the Top 5 reasons to see this show, opening tonight.

#5. I am a sucker for a tango sequence. I know this is an odd moment to pick out, but I just love a good tango. Sure, it has no plot-driving purpose. It's in there just for show. But it's fun nonetheless. Tom Segal and Nancy Dobbs Owen do a great job, with Owens in particular exhibiting the kind of flexibility and strength that boggle my "moves well" kind of mind.

#4. Bill Fahrner as another crazy European dude. OK, I might be totally biased. Bill is the one guy in the show I know and have worked with before. But he really is always a kick to watch in any role. I first saw him play "NIce Guy" roles, so I particularly enjoy his more recent forays into "Wacky" character roles. The one downer: he doesn't get to sing enough. Bill has one of those rich, smooth baritones, and there aren't a lot of opportunities in this role for him to show it off. Oh well, the hairdo compensates!

#3. An amazingly contemporary monolog before the song "Live and Let Live." It literally took my breath away to hear these lines about uptight moralists who want to enforce their narrow moral view on everyone. And how France was born based on the concept of liberty, and these extremists have no right to try to take it away. All this leading into a song that proclaims that we should live and let live...what's your business is yours, and what's mine is mine. To get briefly political: in these times, when our freedoms are being attacked on all sides...by the religious right-wing who would legislate love and by the would-be totalitarians who would PATRIOT ACT our freedoms right out of existence...this speech was so relevant I felt quite moved.

#2. Which brings me to the actor delivering said speech and song, Ann Morrison. As Pistache, Morrison is charming and poignant. With a voice reminiscent of a cat's purr (hmmm...that just made me think of Eartha Kitt, which is an apt reference point) and an ability to both amuse and tug at the heart strings, Morrison makes sure that this is one version of 'Can-Can' where Pistache remains the center of attention. (Gwen Verdon famously stole the show out from under the Pistache in the original Broadway production.)

#1. If you love Cole Porter, 'Can-Can' is a must-see. Seeing some of Porter's most well-known tunes in context is fascinating. For instance, "It's All Right With Me" obviously has a dark undertone, what with its minor key and the basic lyrical content which is essentially "You're not her, but you'll do for now." But seeing that the leading man sings it to a street walker was a bit more dark than I had been expecting. And the song "I Love Paris", always lovely, but also slightly melancholy, makes more sense when you realize the unresolved nature of the love the character is singing about. Other Porter classics in this lesser know show include "C'est Magnifique (charming) and "Can-Can" (clever). And 42nd St. Moon has included a cut song that has been mostly lost over the last 50 years, "Her Heart Was In Her Work", which is of the naughty, bawdy Porter variety.

Two special shout-outs:

The Musical Director, Dave Dobrusky. Musical Directors at 42nd St. Moon do yeoman's duty, sitting in their corner making a single piano sound like an entire band. (In this case Dave was ably assisted by actress Tania Johnson who occasionally pulled out an accordion to give us that French flavor.)

Actress Alexandra Kaprielian experienced every actor's nightmare last night. No, not the one where you walk on stage and forget every line. The one where you suddenly realize you're not wearing your costume. You can read all about it in the blog, but let me just say she handled her "wardrobe malfunction" with more aplomb than I would have.

You can still see 'Can-Can', go here for more information.

Posted: Sat - October 9, 2004 at 10:25 AM       EmailFeedback

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