Have you ever been eating something so delicious that when you realize it’s almost gone, you feel mildly devastated?
As I sat among hundreds of fellow students in the audience of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” it was undeniable that we were all experiencing that same feeling as the production came to an end.
Not only was I laughing for a solid 90 percent of the production, but I was grinning ear-to-ear as I felt the unmistakable energy and excitement radiating from each and every performer. Saying that the play is brilliantly written would be an understatement, for the satirical comedy paralleled by the contrasting personalities of each character led to entertainment that was nothing short of hilarious.
The play is centered on a hugely successful performer, Janet van de Graff (Jillian Caillouette), and her decision to forego her career in order to marry a man named Robert Martin (TJ Swetz). This decision has upset among many people, especially Mr. Feldzieg (Eric Gomez), the producer of Feldzieg’s Follies. An enticing Latin man named Aldolpho (Sergio Mandujano), along with two gangsters (Manuel Torres and Jared Starkey), become chief components of a plan to halt the impending nuptials. Kitty (Megan O’Callaghan), a dimwitted girl who dreams of being a star, is more than willing to take Janet’s place. The ensuing plot is teeming with ridiculous antics, semi-brilliant disguises, and utterly bemusing drama.
This play is unique because it’s unfolding in the middle of “the man in the chair’s” (Ryan Taylor) living room. His character develops flawlessly as he provides a commentary on the entire performance. His deeply-rooted passion for musicals combined with a serious case of awkwardness, the occasional jitters and ever-so-often hints toward (very) personal experiences is a recipe for uncontrollable laughter. Taylor does an excellent job capturing the eccentric personality of “the man in the chair” while actively engaging the audience throughout the play.
Each performer had the opportunity to showcase his or her impressive talents, from Robert and his best man George (Nathan Clift) tap dancing effortlessly around the stage, to Janet belting out numbers about how she doesn’t want to be famous anymore, to The Drowsy Chaperone (Shaylen Harger) executing an elaborate music and dance number while maintaining her heavily drunken persona.
The performers’ talents were simply profound; I left the play feeling absolutely amazed by each and every one of them. I wholeheartedly recommend this production to anybody who’s looking for their mood to be uplifted by brilliantly clever jokes and enthralling musical numbers.
