Theater Review: 'The Drowsy Chaperone' in West Hartford

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

My first trip to West Hartford Community Theater was for a very good community theater production of “The Drowsy Chaperone.” The musical continues at The Duffy Elementary School through Nov. 12. Jane Cerosky directed the West Hartford production with a good eye for all the comedic elements and Benjamin Mabrey led the orchestra as music director.

The “Musical Within a Comedy” features music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar.

The very talented community theater veteran Rick Fountain was given the opportunity to play a bucket list role in his hometown as he leads the cast as “Man in Chair.” In his debut with the group, Fountain’s performance as the narrator/commentator easily alternates betweens very funny and often touching in his "non-specific sadness."

Jenna Nikirk, a teacher by day, is adorable as the ditsy Mrs. Tottendale in her West Hartford debut and Steve O’Brien shows a dry wit as her savvy butler “Underling” in his debut with the group.

Michael Robb returns to this group to portray the handsome groom Robert Martin, who is required to roller skate blindfolded, with Nathan Holbrook as his anxious best man George; both actors are fine tap dancers. Bob Janas performs again with the group to play Broadway producer Feldzieg and Mona Tiglio, who has been onstage for four decades, is a riot in the role of Kitty.

Anna Kelly is spot on as Gangster #1 in her fourth show with this group, with Tim Grant as her pastry chef partner, Gangster #2, in his first production with West Hartford Community Theater; both maintain their fun accents.

Michael Cartwright, a community actor with a long list of credits who also co-founded the Connecticut Yuletide Carolers, gives a wonderfully over the top performance as Aldolpho, showing off his admirably deep voice in “I Am Aldolpho.” Ariana Straznicky is a delight as the starlet bride Janet Van de Graaf. Staznicky was once again able to “Show Off” her beautiful singing voice and great comic timing.

Tracy Funke seems to be having the time of her life portraying her bucket list role of the often inebriated Chaperone. She fully embraces the character whenever she is onstage in her first production with this group.

Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts student Cwen Williams plays Trix, the Aviatrix, whose biplane was nicely assembled for “I Do, I Do in the Sky.” Randie Fierberg appears at the end of the second act as Man’s building superintendent.

The multi-generational ensemble includes Avery Allen, Lisa Carmago, Noreen Cavanaugh (who mentions in her bio that she teaches kindergarten at Duffy,) Randie Fierberg, Naomi Scheinerman, Karen Shakun and Izzy Steinberg, all of whom are seasoned dancers. The ten musicians seated in front of the stage made the charming score sound excellent.

Choreography by Jen Bunger is delightful and performed well by the dancers for one show-stopping song and dance number after another. A great number of costumes designed by Vivianna Lamb are lush, proper for the Roaring Twenties, and flattering to all of the cast members. From Tottendale’s “Fancy Dress,” to glittery, fringe trimmed flapper dresses, everything looks great.

Lighting by Nick D’Angelo was hard to appreciate in the large space and sound design by David Jarkey worked well overall, although I heard some patrons saying that they had some difficulty hearing the singers above the live music. Rorie Fitzsimons designed the cheery set, complete with kitchen, pull out bed and seating area for “Man.”

West Hartford Community Theater opened its doors in 2008. “Drowsy Chaperone” is presented without an intermission. The only cut that I noticed was the Asian musical ("Message from A Nightingale") that mistakenly opens the second act.

Remaining performances are Nov. 10, 11 and 12 at Duffy School, 95 Westminster Drive, West Hartford, CT. Tickets cost $25 in advance, and $30 at the door (Student tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, with school ID.) https://whtheater.org

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.