Tipsy-Turvy “Drowsy Chaperone” Brings Monica M. Wemitt Back to Mac-Haydn [Berkshire on Stage]
With a merry mix of 1920’s musical comedy plot twists, lots of quirky characters and some great songs, The Drowsy Chaperone is at the Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham through June 14. You’ll be wide-awake with laughter through this “musical within a comedy,” which stars Jamie Grayson, returning to MHT to play the Man In The Chair, a lonely soul seeking to cure his ‘non-specific sadness’ by listening to his treasured recording of his mother’s favorite 1928 Broadway musical comedy.
The Man provides a running commentary on the events of the show as it unfolds in his mind and his apartment. This soon reveals that “Drowsy” means “Tipsy” as the Chaperone, played by Monica M. Wemitt, indulges her thirsty desires and then must nap to recover. If you enjoy Ms. Wemitt’s characters, just imagine her ‘tipsy’ and singing “As We Stumble Along” – need we say more?
The tipsy-turvy plot is a challenge even with explanations. The Chaperone is in charge of keeping the bride and groom-to-be apart until the wedding, but instead falls under the spell of a gigolo sent to stop the nuptials – who thinks he’s seducing the bride. Meanwhile the happy couple share a kiss – but the blind-folded groom thinks he’s kissing someone else. Then there are gangsters disguised as pastry chefs, a Follies producer who wants to keep the bride in his show and a ditzy hopeful star. Plus, a wealthy hostess who’s hoping for wedding bells of her own, a best man being overly efficient except for one little detail, and a heroine who swoops in to save the day and the wedding(s) – not to mention tap dancing, roller skating and roaring ’20s-style songs like “Toledo Surprise, Fancy Dress, Cold Feets” to make this show a binge of fun and laughs that also proves “Love Is Always Lovely in the End”.
Comments are closed.