The narrator introduces us (from his easy chair) to his vinyl recording of The Drowsy Chaperone, a musical comedy from the 20’s. His frank, relaxed commentary, the disc on a turntable, set the tone for adoration of the craft, perhaps far too rare, in a world of diminished enthusiasm. Throughout our submersion into The Drowsy Chaperone experience, he gives us background on the performers, context, and smart (if opinionated) critique. The guys playing the gangsters were brothers. The dizzy chorine was actually dizzy. Our nostalgic trip lands us in the “actual” midst of the show, with dialogue and songs. There’s a metronomic swing between the musical, and our present day conversation with the narrator. He makes a sandwich, answers the phone, visits the loo. Does embracing theatre seep into our humdrum, often disappointing lives?
The Drowsy Chaperone is a valentine, a tribute to a unique, rousing, genre of entertainment. But there’s something else. The obsession with musical comedy is often trivialized. Baffling to heterosexual males. A realm occupied by the eccentric and effete. The narrator is quite comfortable pointing out the preposterous, facetious qualities of musical narrative. It seems to be a modern trope lately, to praise something, while spoofing it. Drama might be depressing, opera oppressive and ponderous. But the light musical can evoke enchantment. There’s shtick, but there’s also pathos. A quizzical capacity to involve us. To salve misery with blissful emotion. That troubles can be managed, or jettisoned. That appreciating the ridiculous can heal the spirit.
Allen Contemporary Theatre’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone is not to be missed. Directors Eddy Herring and Robyn Meade have brought all the nuance and spark of Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison’s (Music and Lyrics) Bob Martin and Don McKellar’s (Book) script to the stage. The splendid nonsense, the unflinching gags, the spits and double-takes and cringe-worthy puns. Like a collage by Rauschenberg or Schwitters or Picasso it coalesces into into something transcending its components. And the cast. What a bunch of effervescent, acrobatic, scene-chewing, crisp and hammy maniacs. What is it about ACT’s production that wakes you to the sweet and gorgeous in the world? That jazzes you down to cobwebs of your soul? Well, you won’t find out just sitting there. For the love of God. Go.
Allen Contemporary Theatre presents The Drowsy Chaperone, playing October 7th-23rd, 2022. 1210 E Main Street, #300, Allen, Texas. (844) 822-8849. allencontemporarytheatre.net