Musical Opens to Great Success

Musical lovers were out in force on Thursday night and ready to be transported back to the 1920s for the premiere of the 's production of "No, No Nanette."

“Opening night is usually fairly quiet, but tonight is definitely busier than normal,” said Charles Skelton, the managing director of the Richey-Suncoast Theatre and the show’s producer.

An energetic and enthusiastic cast succeed in taking the audience back to the roaring twenties, when social ideas were changing as rapidly as the fashions of the day. Struggling to find her place in an evolving world is Nanette, the eponymous heroine who longs to break away from her sheltered upbringing and experience everything the new world around her has to offer.

“I want to raise a little hell,” Nanette tells her fiancé Tom Trainor before sneaking off to Atlantic City with her friends.

As Nanette fights for her independence, her guardian, Jimmy Smith, has troubles of his own. “Uncle Jimmy” is a successful and wealthy Bible publisher whose generosity and naivety in helping three young needy women looks set to land him in hot water. As Nanette tries to escape her past, Jimmy desperately tries to keep a lid on his, and one innocent deception leads to a tangled web of humorous confusion.

The tunes in this musical all have an air of familiarity about them and had many of the audience members singing and humming as they left the theatre on opening night. Songs such as “Too Many Rings Around Rosie” and “Tea for Two” will ring a bell with most, while the idealistic message and catchy tune of “I Want to be Happy” will stay with viewers long after leaving their seats.  

Strong performances were delivered by the leads, both in terms of acting and singing. Elizabeth Phillips as Lucille Early and Caitlin Ramirez as Nanette both give powerful vocal performances. Chris Cavalier as Tom Trainor and Drew Lundquist as Trainor’s boss were also very entertaining.

The band, under the direction of Stella Gaukhshteyn, does a great job of accompanying the players, and its ragtime soundtrack is integral in recreating the 1920s.

A special mention must be given to Vicki Knapp who plays Pauline. As maid to the Smith family, Pauline gets many of the best one-liners, and Knapp makes the very most of each one. Knapp displays great comic timing, which she blends with a good-natured cynicism in her scene-stealing portrayal of the sassy maid.

Marie Skelton and Linda Hougland deserve credit both for their direction and choreography. The tap-dance numbers proved especially effective and popular with the audience.

Overall "No, No Nanette" is a light-hearted and fun production, and audiences might be surprised by just how many of the songs they know.

No No Nanette runs for three weekends, closing on Sunday March 13. For tickets or more information on this, or any other show at the Richey Suncoast Theater visit www.RicheySuncoastTheatre.com