Cabaret Scenes Theatre Review

What happened? Bye Bye Birdie used to be fun, an unpretentious if frivolous Broadway show in 1960. The direction and choreography by Gower Champion sparkled. Michael Stewart's book was gently satirical. Charles Strouse created some fetching tunes to Lee Adams' smart and amusing lyrics. When the 1963 movie version brought in Ann-Margret, her buoyant sex appeal alone was enough to lift the show and ignite her career. The show went on to become an irresistible staple for high school productions but was never revived on Broadway. Until now.

Alas, the Roundabout Theatre Company revival at the beautifully renovated Henry Miller's Theatre is not fun. What should be exuberance is more like forced frenzy. It could just as easily been set in a high school auditorium.

The story is simple. When popular Elvis-inspired Conrad Birdie is drafted into the Army, hysteria overtakes his fans and family harmony disintegrates. Birdie's manager decides to use the chaos for profit. What would be more exciting, and bring in more royalties, than to have Birdie appear on the The Ed Sullivan Show, singing a new, sure-fire hit song ("One Last Kiss") and bestow that last kiss on one lucky fan? The chosen recipient is fifteen-year-old Kim MacAfee (Allie Trimm), from Sweet Apple, Ohio. Kim, president of the local fan club, is beyond elated and her high school pals are positively green. Although Kim recently declared her undying love for her steady, Hugo, (Matt Doyle), she must set him aside – but just for now.

This is the show and although it may be too dopey for some audiences today, it was once fresh and charming with a tuneful score that was not rock 'n' roll. In the revival, there is one huge problem and that is casting. Performers need stage presence. Even without singing like Barbara Cook or dancing like Tommy Tune, stage presence will sometimes nail down the part. This nail did not come close with TV star John Stamos as Albert, Birdie's manager, and Gina Gershon as Rosie, Albert's love-struck secretary. Neither sings nor dances well enough, their comic timing is sketchy and stage presence is zero. How can "Put on a Happy Face" be uninspiring? Maybe it's not fair to compare previous performances but just remember, the originals were Dick Van Dyke and Chita Rivera. Albert should be a clueless but lovable businessman, a mama's boy yet engaging. Stamos is clueless, yes, and handsome, but boring. Gershon looks like a well-built Rosie but you have to wonder why she is gaga over the guy. She does not evoke a tempting pizzazz factor even in her big number, "Spanish Rose." Worst, there is no heat between Rosie and Albert.

The third star above-the-title, Bill Irwin, delivers a bizarre, twitchy interpretation of Kim's father, Harry, puzzling in this nerd-gone-demented performance. Why is his rendition of "Kids" muddled with bellowing brays? You have to feel sorry for Dee Hoty as his long-suffering wife. Albert's overbearing mother is played over-the-top by the capable Jayne Houdyshell.

Although Nolan Gerard Funk (Birdie) looks too young to evoke the torrid Elvis sexuality, he has the hip-swivel down in "Honestly Sincere." Allie Trimm, as the innocent Kim MacAfee, foregoes Ann-Margret's sex-kitten performance and instead shows an appealing natural sweetness and lovely vocal ability. The teens are impressive with animation that never sags, chattering and screaming "We Love You, Conrad!" Their hormones are on fire and they are ready to follow where Conrad beckons in "A Lot of Livin' to Do." So are their mothers.

While he fails to elicit authenticity from the big names, director/choreographer Robert Longbottom moves the show briskly and aims for a bubbly soda-pop good-feeling. Andrew Jackness' Mondrian-type sets and Gregg Barnes' pastel costumes scream "1950s!"

Good news for some – Bye Bye Birdie is family friendly. Bad news for others – no quick "Bye, bye" for Birdie and company.

(Photo: John Stamos, Nolan Gerard Funk, Gina Gershon. Photo by Joan Marcus)

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
October 20, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org



	Bye Bye Birdie Henry Miller's Theatre New York, NY
What happened? Bye Bye Birdie used to be fun, an unpretentious if frivolous Broadway show in 1960. The direction and choreography by Gower Champion sparkled. Michael Stewart's book was gently satirical. Charles Strouse created some fetching tunes to Lee Adams' smart and amusing lyrics. When the 1963 movie version brought in Ann-Margret, her buoyant sex appeal alone was enough to lift the show and ignite her career. The show went on to become an irresistible staple for high school productions but was never revived on Broadway. Until now. Alas, the Roundabout Theatre Company revival at the beautifully renovated Henry Miller's Theatre is not fun. What should be exuberance is more like forced frenzy. It could just as easily been set in a high school auditorium. The story is simple. When popular Elvis-inspired Conrad Birdie is drafted into the Army, hysteria overtakes his fans and family harmony disintegrates. Birdie's manager decides to use the chaos for profit. What would be more exciting, and bring in more royalties, than to have Birdie appear on the The Ed Sullivan Show, singing a new, sure-fire hit song ("One Last Kiss") and bestow that last kiss on one lucky fan? The chosen recipient is fifteen-year-old Kim MacAfee (Allie Trimm), from Sweet Apple, Ohio. Kim, president of the local fan club, is beyond elated and her high school pals are positively green. Although Kim recently declared her undying love for her steady, Hugo, (Matt Doyle), she must set him aside – but just for now. This is the show and although it may be too dopey for some audiences today, it was once fresh and charming with a tuneful score that was not rock 'n' roll. In the revival, there is one huge problem and that is casting. Performers need stage presence. Even without singing like Barbara Cook or dancing like Tommy Tune, stage presence will sometimes nail down the part. This nail did not come close with TV star John Stamos as Albert, Birdie's manager, and Gina Gershon as Rosie, Albert's love-struck secretary. Neither sings nor dances well enough, their comic timing is sketchy and stage presence is zero. How can "Put on a Happy Face" be uninspiring? Maybe it's not fair to compare previous performances but just remember, the originals were Dick Van Dyke and Chita Rivera. Albert should be a clueless but lovable businessman, a mama's boy yet engaging. Stamos is clueless, yes, and handsome, but boring. Gershon looks like a well-built Rosie but you have to wonder why she is gaga over the guy. She does not evoke a tempting pizzazz factor even in her big number, "Spanish Rose." Worst, there is no heat between Rosie and Albert. The third star above-the-title, Bill Irwin, delivers a bizarre, twitchy interpretation of Kim's father, Harry, puzzling in this nerd-gone-demented performance. Why is his rendition of "Kids" muddled with bellowing brays? You have to feel sorry for Dee Hoty as his long-suffering wife. Albert's overbearing mother is played over-the-top by the capable Jayne Houdyshell. Although Nolan Gerard Funk (Birdie) looks too young to evoke the torrid Elvis sexuality, he has the hip-swivel down in "Honestly Sincere." Allie Trimm, as the innocent Kim MacAfee, foregoes Ann-Margret's sex-kitten performance and instead shows an appealing natural sweetness and lovely vocal ability. The teens are impressive with animation that never sags, chattering and screaming "We Love You, Conrad!" Their hormones are on fire and they are ready to follow where Conrad beckons in "A Lot of Livin' to Do." So are their mothers. While he fails to elicit authenticity from the big names, director/choreographer Robert Longbottom moves the show briskly and aims for a bubbly soda-pop good-feeling. Andrew Jackness' Mondrian-type sets and Gregg Barnes' pastel costumes scream "1950s!" Good news for some – Bye Bye Birdie is family friendly. Bad news for others – no quick "Bye, bye" for Birdie and company. (Photo: John Stamos, Nolan Gerard Funk, Gina Gershon. Photo by Joan Marcus) Elizabeth Ahlfors Cabaret Scenes October 20, 2009 www.cabaretscenes.org

Bye Bye Birdie

Henry Miller's Theatre New York, NY

Henry Miller's Theatre
New York, NY