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Written by Harry Cherkinian, Contributing writer
Sep 22, 2010
Skylight Opera Theatre A scene from “Dames at Sea.” – Photo: Courtesy
Given the economic outlook these days, nostalgia never looked so good. In fact, it’s staging its own comeback at the Skylight Opera Theatre, where it kicked off its 51st-season opener with the gloriously funny parody, “Dames at Sea.”
So, who’s being parodied here? None other than Busby Berkeley and his visually spectacular movie musicals of the 1930s. Dancing girls in flashing costumes, moving in unison with fans or hula hoops, be it on land or in water, where boy meets girl and gets girl happily ever after.
With “Dames,” part of the retrospective appeal of the Skylight’s production lies in its “less is so much more” approach. The seven-member acting ensemble fills the stage with a light heartedness and enthusiasm that gets the tongue-in-cheek playfulness just right while showcasing some well executed song and dance numbers. That’s due in large part to the small three-piece “orchestra” (keyboard, drums, percussion) under Jeff Schaetzke’s direction.
“Dames” director Bill Theisen and choreographer Pam Krieger evoke the innocent charm of old-fashioned song forms (the torch spoof “That Mister Man of Mine”) and the sheer talent of classic tap dance steps amid two hours of laughs and memories of how things used to be.
It’s easy to see just where the plot of “Dames” is headed: When a group of actors are forced to leave their theater on opening night, a dashing young sailor (who just happens to be a talented songwriter in the making) offers up his battleship – without his captain’s permission, of course. Add in the temperamental diva Mona Kent, who can’t go on in the starring role, the sweet young Ruby fresh off the bus from Utah who can dance up a storm and the course is set.
Broskey more than fills the songwriting sailor role with his naïve, nice guy approach, which plays well with his romantic counterpart Ruby. Meghan Deese is perfectly cast as the sweetly naïve hoofer, whether she’s pining away for her new found love in “Sailor of My Dreams” or singing to her man in the chirpy, upbeat duet,“There’s Something About You.”
Christy Morton simply delights as the tempestuous Mona, a true comedienne in her own right and a vocalist who hits the notes head-on amid some hilarious moments, like staying atop a piano in the torchy “Mister Man.” The rest of the cast is equally good: Samantha Sostarich and Kelly Sina as a couple of “experienced” chorus girls, Scott Stratton as Dick’s eager sailor pal and in a dual role, Mark David Kaplan as the tough theater manager and the ship’s overly emotional captain..
With all of that, as another memorable song lyric goes, “Who could ask for anything more?”
