"Who Could Ask for Anything More?" A review of "Crazy for You"

The Fantastick Theater Company's production of George Gershwin's Crazy For You is an exceptional musical. Combining remarkable singing as well as dancing, it reaches a truly rare feat in the world of musical theater. Much of the show belongs to its company of supporting actors and dancers, who invariably steal every scene in which they appear. The dancing Follies Girls (Jennifer Schmidt ??, B.U. junior Katie Ouimette, Sarah Turner '01, Yuka Yamaguchi ??, Heather Childs ??, and Maritess Panlilio '02), led by first year Neha Jadeja in the role of Tess, are showstopping, making the full company numbers, particularly the closing of the first act and of the show itself, worth seeing a second--or third--time.

From the first dance scene in which the Follies Girls make their grand entrance, wearing striking red-sequined costumes highlighting their vivacity, to the full company dancing-and-singing numbers "Girls Enter Nevada," "Slap that Bass," "Tonight's the Night," "I got Rhythm," "The Real American Folk Song," and the Finale, the audience can be assured seamless choreography paralleled by impeccable singing. Choreographer Kimberlee Garris ??, co-captain of the Crimson Dance Team, has put together routines that are not only perfectly executed by the dancers, but truly original; one of the best parts of the show is during a musical number in which the Follies Girls use metal tins--pizza pans, to be precise--as props against which they first kick their heels and then later, much to the amazement of the audience, actually tap dance upon.

Everything about this production flows together as mellifluously as its singing and dancing; from the winsome one-liners and funny accents (Hungarian, British, and good ole'American Southern), to the costumes (ranging from floor-length gold lamE ball gowns to leather fringe vests with cowboy hats to Vegas-style showgirl getups complete with gold-and-purple accented capes), Crazy for You is a rare production that leaves the audience with a smile plastered on its face, humming the tunes and tapping its feet as it boisterously exits the theater. And let's not forget that well-deserved standing ovation. The final scene seems as if it will go on endlessly (this time, it's a good thing), as the stage is occupied by the entire company, seemingly floating on air as they tap, jump and sing.

The cast, headed by Bobby Childs (Matt Romero '00?) and Polly Baker (Tara Carella ??), functions as one continuous unit; the funniest and most memorable scenes involve either arguments, fights, love spats, or romance between the members of the company. This is certainly a group-oriented musical, for although the main plot involves Bobby and Polly's complicated--or, as it turns out, not so complicated--romantic relationship, it is the host of side plots and secondary characters that make the musical so completely enjoyable: each actor is ideally cast, completely taking on his or her character's quirks, flaws, woes, and talents (or lack thereof) to the maximum.

One such supporting actor is sophomore BJ "Brian" Averell in the role of Bela Zangler, the illustrious Hungarian owner of The Zangler Follies in New York City. While Averell has become a minor celebrity after his recent stowaway escapade, he was clearly meant to play Bela, with his slapstick antics and comic walk and accent. The sub-plot of Bela and Tess' love affair adds more fuel to the comic fire of Crazy for You.

As Irene Roth, Bobby's fiancee (of five years, no less), Kate Earls '00 is perfectly cast--her elegance matches her ultra-glamorous wardrobe, which includes several full-length evening gowns, each more stylish and chic than the next. With her exaggerated snobbishness, Earls steals the show every time she appears, particularly in her thrilling rendition of "Naughty Baby" and her catfights with both Bobby's mother (Jenn Hyman ??) and Polly. Roth's ultimate love interest is found in Lank Hawkins (Jonathan Steinberger '01), a gun-toting, tough-talking, scene-stealing cowboy, who, along with Ben Kornell '02 as the ever-awkward Moose and Nick Weil '00 as the would-be actor Wyatt, provides some of the funniest moments in "Crazy for You." Irene and Lank's duo in the number "Naughty Baby" is one of the show's highest points.

Another scene-stealing pair are the Fodors (yes, the ones of travel book fame), a British couple on a mission to write a guidebook about the American West who find themselves staying in Lank's so-called hotel. As Eugene Fodor, Jonathan Dinerstein '01 is ideally cast, complimented by first-year Laura Durso in the role of Patricia Fodor. The Fodors add yet another comic twist to the plot and capture every scene in which they appear.

Patsy and Bobby, as the show's leading players, carry Crazy for You nearly entirely on their shoulders, and do a superb job. In her solos "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "But Not For Me," Carella is has ample opportunity to show off her stunning voice; and although she and Romero are both remarkably talented singers, their dancing is also superb, particularly in "Shall We Dance?" Romero develops Bobby's character to the fullest, in a touching, charming manner, while Carella seems almost born to play the role of Patsy, the sweet-girl-next-door who steals Bobby's heart. Crazy for You, in the tradition of the grand musical comedies of yesteryear, truly does have it all--stellar cast, vocals, dancing, and costumes. As the closing song goes, who could ask for anything more?