Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Florida - West Coast

Catch Me If You Can
The Players Theatre


James Hyde with Chorus and Kenneth Rapczynski
The Players Theatre has snagged the rights for the area premiere of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's sophomore Broadway effort Catch Me If You Can, playing through April 4, 2015. The musical opened on Broadway in April 2011 and could only manage a run of 170 performances. The score is an homage to 1960s Las Vegas and the Rat Pack sound. The Broadway production had a large orchestra seated upstage, giving the music extra prominence. I believe that book writer Terrence McNally along with Shaiman and Wittman found the right sound and style to tell this story, based on the 2002 movie of the same name, which is about Frank Abagnale, Jr. who as a teenager was able to have careers as an airline pilot, a doctor and a lawyer, actually passing the Louisiana bar. The musical had a hard time getting audiences emotionally involved with Abagnale, a necessity at Broadway prices. Some die hard fans thought it one of the best things to hit Broadway in a very long time. I like the show, love the score and cast album, but I also find it hard to sympathize with the con man hero.

The Players are definitely on a roll, with highly successful productions of Cabaret and Violet behind them. Catch Me If You Can takes them to even greater heights. The outstanding cast features James Hyde as Frank Abagnale, Jr. and Kenneth Rapczynski as Carl Hanratty. Both introduced themselves to area theatergoers in Manatee Players' Les Misérables a year and a half ago. Mr. Rapczynski played Jean Valjean in that production and I doubt Norbert Leo Butz, who won a Tony Award playing Hanratty will be taking on Valjean in the near future. Rapczynski shows strong acting chops in this role and of course has no trouble with the musical end. Mr. Hyde dominates the stage as a strutting teenager, partly because he is only a few years older, and nails the crooning vocals. The entire cast is vocally very strong, and the ensemble dancing brings memories of "Hullabaloo," a cheesy 1960s television show. Mark Athridge as Frank Abagnale, Sr., Jolie Rand as Paula Abagnale, Shelly Whiteside as Carol Strong, and Kenneth Basque as Roger Strong are all excellent. Holly Rizzo, also featured in the same production of Les Misérables is the audience favorite as Frank, Jr.'s fiancée Brenda Strong. Her song "Fly, Fly, Away" is the most moving in the show.

Dewayne Barrett, director and choreographer, directs a flashy production. He makes great use of a unit set by Ryan Mueller that easily becomes a Vegas stage for the first act's big production numbers. His choreography is simple enough that his cast can perform it well but it still dazzles. Kenneth Mooney's costumes have exactly the right period look.

Musical director/keyboardist Rebecca Heintz leads the largest band I have seen in community theater in ages—nine additional pieces and the sound is rich and full. Everyone plays well and the energy level, so critical to this score, is blazing!

Catch Me If You Can is certainly one of the highlights of a great season in our wonderful community theaters.

Catch Me If You Can through April 4, 2015, at The Players Theatre, 838 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL. Box Office (941) 365-2494. For more information visit www.theplayers.org.

Cast: Frank Abagnale, Jr.: James Hyde; Carl Hanratty: Kenneth Rapczynski; Frank Abagnale, Sr.: Mark Athridge; Paula Abagnale: Jolie Rand; Brenda Strong: Holly Rizzo; Carol Strong: Shelley Whiteside; Roger Strong: Kenneth Basque; Cheryl Ann: Nancy Creighton; Agent Branton: Joe Hunter; Agent Cod: Tony Boothby; Agent Dollar/Ensemble: Kurland Hoffman; Frank Jr. Understudy: Brian finnerty; Flight Attendants/Nurses: Sarah Baeder, Cheyenne Favel, Amanda Heisey, Melissa Ingrisano, Ellie McCaw; Jaimi McPeak, Rachel Nix, Leah Woodsum; Pilots/Agents/Dancers: Brian Finnerty,Chris Hines, Logan Junkins, Jean Paul Monde, Joseph Rabella, David Russell, Brian Strubbe; Ensemble/Women/Commuters/Carolers: Sharon Bartley, Gayle foster, Casey Kelley, Linda Roeming-Engle, Kay Siebold, Francoise Stotts, victoria Tokarz

Director/Choreographer: Dewayne Barrett; Musical Director: Rebecca Heintz: Lighting/Set Design: Ryan Mueller; Technical Director: Nate Myers; Sound Design: Seth Berry; Costumes: Kenneth Mooney Musicians: Musical Director/Keyboard: Rebecca Heintz; Second Keyboard: Christine Bruno; Drums: John Januszewski; Electric Guitar: Tommy Busch; Trumpet 1: Shawn Marren; Trumpet 2: Adam Frazier; Clarinet: Catie Fennessy; Alto Sax/Oboe: Ian Holst; Bass Clarinet: Daniel Rees; Flute: Natalie Townsend


Photo: DonDalyPhoto.com

--William S. Oser