MARK AUERBACH
HARTFORD – The national touring company of the 2012 Broadway musical “Nice Work If You Can Get It” is playing at Hartford’s Bushnell this week. Using the music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin, Joe DiPietro fashioned a pastiche of a 1920s musical, as inspired by those musicals of yesteryear, where stock characters, a slight plot, and a happy ending bookmarked an endless array of song and dance. DiPietro, who wrote the script to last season’s revisal of “Damn Yankees” at Goodspeed, and last summer’s “Living on Love” for Renee Fleming at Williamstown (it’s Broadway bound), first turned to the Gershwin song book for “They All Laughed”. That premiered at Goodspeed in 2001. It got revised, retooled, and finally opened on Broadway, under the direction of Kathleen Marshall, as a vehicle for Matthew Broderick and Kelli O’Hara.
The “Nice Work If You Can Get It” national tour ensemble
performs “Lady Be Good.” (Photo by Jeremy Daniel)
“Nice Work If You Can Get It” isn’t the first recent musical that pulled its score from the Gershwins’ work. “My One and Only” won a slew of awards, primarily for Tommy Tune’s choreography and his starring performance opposite Twiggy. “Crazy for You” showcased the talents of choreographer Susan Stroman. Kathleen Marshall’s work on “Nice Work If You Can Get It” doesn’t have as much sizzle, but there are some hefty Charleston numbers, and an inventive bath sequence called “Delishious”, a very funny wedding dress for a bride, and some “bits” that got broad laughs.
“Nice Work If You Can Get It” has three pluses. First, the Gershwin catalogue is one hit after another, with snazzy and jazzy orchestrations by Bill Elliott. Who can resist a musical with well known Gershwin tunes like “S’Wonderful”, “Someone to Watch Over Me”, and Fascinatin’ Rhythm”? Add in some lesser-known gems like “Looking For a Boy” and “By Strauss”, and it’s showtune heaven. Second, Kathleen Marshall’s dance numbers and staging, well-recreated by David Eggers, are fun. Third, the ensemble sings and dances with verve.
For me, the predictable book could have been dispensed with for an evening of song and dance. The performances are all pleasant. Best of the batch are Stephanie Harter Gilmore as an uptight dutchess and Reed Campbell as Cookie, the best written parts which won Judy Kaye and Michael McGrath supporting actor Tony Awards. Alex Enterline and Mariah MacFarlane are charming in the roles originated by Broderick and O’Hara.
“Nice Work If You Can Get It” runs through Sunday.
The Bushnell presents “Nice Work If You Can Get It”. Music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Book by Joe DiPietro, inspired by Guy Bolton and PG Wodehouse. Scenic design by Derek McLane recreated by Shoko Kambara. Original Costume design by Martin Pakledinaz.Costume coordination by Amy Clark. Original Lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski, recreated by Paul Toben. Sound design by Brian Ronan recreated by Keith Caggiano. Original direction and choreography by Kathleen Marshall, recreated by David Eggers. Music direction by Charlie Reuter. Through February 8. The Bushnell. Hartford, CT. Tickets: 860-987-5900 or www.bushnell.org
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio.
