Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score, ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ is a musical comedy gem. With the houselights down, a woman in a chair (Lena Schmidt) appears on stage and puts on her favorite record: the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical.
No sooner has needle touched record than we, together with the narrator, are transported to a 1928 Broadway theatre and into ‘The Drowsy Chaperone,’ a play-within-a-play, just crammed full of every cliche, gag and gimmick from the golden age of musicals. As she listens, mayhem ensues with an intricately plotted tale of love-in-crisis, alongside the frantic foibles of those attempting to thwart the lovers’ nuptials.
The estate of Mrs. Tottendale (Brooklyn Bankes), a wealthy but not-so-bright dowager, is the site of an imminent wedding between showgirl Janet Van De Graff (Lucy O’Brien) and oil tycoon heir Robert Martin (Aaron Maly).
Bumbling best man George (Jameson Adkins) attempts to plan the wedding and assigns Janet’s problematic confidante, ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ (Dmitri Staum) to ensure the bride and groom don’t see each other before the ceremony.
Meanwhile, producer Feldzeig (Camden Unseth), agonizes over the fact that his top meal ticket, Janet, is leaving showbiz to get married. A handful of jovial Gangsters disguised as pastry chefs (Kayla Bankes, Gracie Jones, Sam Knoble, Ariel Knoble), who are in the employ of one of Feldzeig's investors, pressure him to sabotage the wedding so that he can retain Janet's name on the marquee.
Feldzieg hires the confident and ethically dubious Aldolpho (John Powell) to carry out his plan, but ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ intervenes.
Along the way, we are introduced to a barrage of characters involved in the wedding day mischief, including Tottendale’s dry-humored butler Underling (Peter Molner), bold female aviator Trix (Bea Moran), ambitious but shrill wannabe showgirl Kitty (Ingrid Carstens), and an ensemble of staff, reporters, frenzied bunnies, and more.
“I like to describe it as a silly musical within a silly comedy play,” Playhouse Director Brandon Bankes commented. “The characters are equal parts ridiculous and charming, and you can’t help but root for them.”
The production also features several new technologies, such as robotic lighting and pixel mapping, and boasts an impressive scenic design.
“The Drowsy Chaperone’ is a loving send-up of the Jazz Age musical, featuring one show-stopping song and dance number after another, with all the ingredients for an evening of madcap delight!
Performances are November 1, 7, & 8 at 7 p.m. and November 1 and 8 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available at ncplayhouse.ludus.com.
