Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Florida - Southern

Mame
The Wick Theatre

Also see John's review of Old Jews Telling Jokes


Leslie Uggams
The Wick Theatre and Executive Producer Marilynn A. Wick are presenting Leslie Uggams starring in Mame. The musical features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, and a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, which was adapted from the 1956 play Auntie Mame, based on the 1955 novel "Auntie Mame," written by Patrick Dennis. It premiered at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City on May 24, 1966, later transferring to the Broadway Theatre. The musical received three Tony Awards, closing after a combined total of 1,508 performances.

Set in 1928, Mame is the story of a vivacious New York City socialite named Mame Dennis. Her life is changed when she becomes sole guardian of her orphaned nephew Patrick. Mame sets out to show Patrick the world as she knows it, a world she sees with a considerable lust for life. As she puts it, "Life is a banquet, and most poor sons-of-bitches are starving to death!." The stock market crash of 1929 changes her life once more, but not her spirit. Flanked by her best friend, stage star Vera Charles, her "little love" Patrick, and her trusted employees Agnes and Ito, Mame weathers the Depression. Unexpectedly, she is swept off her feet by a gallant and wealthy suitor named Beauregard. Their blissful marriage ends suddenly several years later when he passes away. Mame goes on living her life to its fullest by loving those around her and helping Patrick find his way in his own life.

Leslie Uggams sounds exactly the same as she did more than 20 years ago when she sat atop a grand piano singing the daylights out of "If He Walked Into My Life" in the televised 1993 concert Jerry Herman's Broadway. Her emotional delivery and musical interpretation of this song would be difficult for anyone to match. It is a defining moment in this production, and, at the performance I attended, was met with thunderous applause as the audience rose to their feet. Uggams has certainly kept her beauty, as well as a graciousness in the way she carries herself. She does struggle with mobility during the show, however, having difficulty walking across the stage—sometimes almost shuffling. She is delightfully accompanied by an endearing and sweet Ryan Sell as the younger version of Mame's nephew Patrick Dennis. His acting is fresh and sincere, and his singing voice lovely and clear. Sell is deservedly her "little love." The older Patrick is played sympathetically by Chris Brand, who sings "My Best Girl" beautifully in the second act.

Uggams manages to "charm the husk right off of the corn" in the title role, despite the production being under-produced. The scenic design is not up to the usual high standards of the Wick. In a show that affords a forum for flair and creativity when dressing the ever changing face of Mame's apartment, the design appears dumbed-down. Even in the song "We Need a Little Christmas", the holiday supplies broken out seem rather sparse. The choreography does not take full advantage of the use of space and opportunities for dance within the show. There were some technical glitches on the day attended. Microphone distortion at the top of the show made it difficult to understand the entrance of Gooch and Young Patrick. Some poor lighting during "Bosom Buddies" left Vera clearly spot-lighted while Mame was not. A dancer fell during one of the dance numbers, and another had to leave stage when his pants split down the middle during another number. The show is well played by an eight-piece orchestra, however, and the ensemble sings the group numbers such as the title song nicely.

Uggams is oddly cast against a dashing Jim Ballard as Beauregard. The fact that he is many years her junior highlights her age, when simply casting someone closer to her age would have made it a non-issue. Though Ballard is normally one of South Florida's most reliable go-to leading men, he turns in a surprisingly lack-luster performance—barely singing in group numbers with an expressionless face. Also surprising is that Lourelene Snedeker underplays the role of Vera. As a talented and experienced actress, it is unlike her to leave any acting stone unturned. Her Vera is not big or melodramatic enough and, perhaps because she focuses so much on the baritone quality of the character's speaking and singing voice, she misses opportunities to give Vera more panache. Irene Adjan is good as Agnes Gooch, but needs more energy, and seems to be juggling a vague accent throughout the show.

The nature of large cast musicals is that they allow for wonderful character moments in even the smallest of cameos. This show is provided such moments by Jeffrey Bruce as the dour and priggish Mr. Babcock, the sit-com styled antics of Missy McArdle and Alan Gerstel as Mr. & Mrs. Upson, Casey Weems dripping venom disguised as honey as Sally Cato, Lauren Bell as the idiotic and pretentious Gloria Upson, Tony d'Alelio as the flamboyant Gregor, and Andy Frank as the nerdy Junior Babcock. Whether actors always remember it, the tiny details they bring to each of these character moments add layers to their scenes to elevate the entire production.

Filled with classic Jerry Herman tunes, comic characters, and a touch of Christmas cheer, this production of Mame is an enjoyable theatrical outing—and practically worth the price of admission just to hear Miss Uggams sing "If He Walked Into My Life."

Mame will be appearing at the Wick Theatre through December 28, 2014. The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum is located at 7901 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton, Florida. It houses a professional, 330-seat theatre company hiring local and non-local Equity and non-Equity actors, the Broadway Collection Costume Museum, and the Wick Tavern - open for lunch or dinner. For more information you may contact them by phone at 561-955-2333 or online at www.thewick.org.

Jerry Herman was the first composer-lyricist in history to have three musicals run more than 1,500 performances on Broadway with Hello, Dolly! (2,844), Mame (1,508) and La Cage aux Folles (1,761). He won Tony Awards for Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles and a special Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 2009 for his body of work. His other musicals include Milk and Honey (1961), Dear World (1969), Mack & Mabel (1974), The Grand Tour (1979), and A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine (1980). His many honors include a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, named after him by his alma mater, the University of Miami, in Miami, Florida.

Cast:
Mame Dennis: Leslie Uggams*
Vera Charles: Lourelene Snedeker*
Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside: Jim Ballard*
Younger Patrick Dennis: Ryan Sell
Agnes Gooch: Irene Adjan*
Older Patrick Dennis/Ensemble: Chris Brand
Ito: Louie San Luis
Mr. Babcock: Jeffrey Bruce
Mr. Lindsey Woolsey: Patrick Wilkinson
Cousin Jeff/Mr. Upson: Alan Gerstel
Mme. Branisolwski/Mother Burnside/Mrs. Upson: Missy McArdle
Sally Cato/Ensemble: Casey Weems
Cousin Fan/Ensemble: Joanna Mandel
Pegeen Ryan/Ensemble
Gloria Upson/Ensemble: Lauren Bell
Junior Babcock/Ensemble: Andy Frank,br>Gregor/Ensemble: Tony d'Alelio
Peter Dennis: Colin Wanless
Ensemble: Lindsay Bell, Mark Blowers, Brian DiRito, Tommy Joscelyn, Amelia Millar and Janet Wiggins

Crew:
Director: Norb Joerder
Musical Director: Michael Usua
Set Design: Eric Harriz
Lighting Design: Jose Santiago
Sound Design: Justin Thompson
Costume Coordination: Marianne Dominy
Stage Manager: Dom Ruggiero*

*Designates member of Actors' Equity Association: the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.


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-- John Lariviere