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Call Me Madam
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Panaro, Morrow, Dye
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By Rob Stevens
Reprise! Broadway's Best has begun its fourth season at UCLA's Freud Playhouse with the rarely performed Irving Berlin musical, Call Me Madam. Written originally and first performed by Ethel Merman in 1950, Madam requires a big star to carry the show. Reprise! was lucky to land Karen Morrow as Mrs. Sally Adams, a rich hick with political connections who becomes ambassador to the tiny Grand Duchy of Lichtenburg. Loosely based on Washington party hostess and Ambassador to Luxembourg Perle Mesta, the Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse book is full of political jokes about Harry Truman and daughter Margaret. There's even a rousing "They Like Ike" number in the second act, presaging Eisenhower's election to the White House. The score is also the star. With such memorable tunes as "It's a Lovely Day Today," "Something to Dance About" and "You're Just in Love", the audience comes in humming the tunes.
Director John Bowab has wisely cut the creaky book and cranked up the pacing so the evening just flies by. This is the "least staged" of Reprise's "staged concerts" this reviewer has seen. Ray Klausen's scenic design is minimal for all the settings: drapes, flowers, a chandelier, or a large painting. Noel Taylor's smart and simple costume design evokes '50s fashions, and he gives his star one basic black dress with some added accessories to speed her entrances and exits. As usual, the musical direction by Peter Matz, seated at dueling pianos with Gerald Sternbach in front of the onstage orchestra, is sublime. Choreographer Alan Johnson has given the talented ensemble some lively steps.
Ms. Morrow is very charming as the lovestruck over-her-head Ambassador, and she sings the score with ease. The cast is very talented with Hugh Panaro and Melissa Dye displaying great voices while sparkling as the young lovers. Michael Tucci, Gerry McIntyre and Paul Clausen add to the laughs as three singing and dancing members of Congress. Robert Mandan as the uppity Charge de Affairs and Paul Keith as the devious Sebastian Sebastian add fine comic support. The one wrong note sounded in the production is leading man Michael Nouri. As the dashing Cosmo, he's just pretty blah and wooden.
Call Me Madam, produced by Reprise! Broadway's Best at Freud Playhouse on the UCLA campus in Westwood. (310) 825-2101. $50. Tue-Sat. 8; Sun, 7; Sat-Sun, 2. Closes Sept. 24.
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