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July 26, 2013
The musical of success
TUTS cast puts on a fun, energetic production.
TOVA G. KORNFELD
While a bit dated, with its theme of sexism – all the bosses are men and all the secretaries are women hoping to catch a husband – Theatre Under the Stars’ production of How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying is still is a lot of fun.
An ambitious undertaking, the production – which alternates nights with Legally Blonde at Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl – features a cast of 33 song and dance artists all under the competent direction of Sarah Rodgers. Shelley Stewart Hunt choreographs and Christopher King is the musical director of a jazzy 15-piece orchestra, and audiences will especially enjoy numbers like “A Secretary is Not a Toy,” “Happy to Keep his Dinner Warm” and the memorable “I Believe in You.”
Based on Shepherd Mead’s novel and with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser (of Guys and Dolls fame), this throwback to the Mad Men-era will most appeal to those with nostalgia for the sixties – think beehive hairdos, Coco Chanel suits, Metrecal and Betty Crocker. The show opened on Broadway in 1961, winning seven Tony Awards and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for drama. It was revived in 1995 with Matthew Broderick as the protagonist Pierrepont Finch and Walter Cronkite providing the narrator’s voice. It re-opened in 2011 with Daniel Radcliffe (best know for his role as Harry Potter) as Finch, John Laroquette as the boss, Mr. Biggley, and Anderson Cooper as the narrator.
The basic storyline centres around Finch, a window washer who dreams of climbing the corporate ladder. His entry into this privileged world is a self-help book, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, which he reads while dangling outside the New York City skyscrapers he cleans. The narrator reads out the chapters, and Finch is a good student, starting his ascent by scoring a spot in the mailroom of the World Wide Wicket Co. By allowing the boss’ nephew, an incorrigible prat who gives new meaning to the definition of nepotism, to win the coveted department manager position, Finch catches the eye of his supervisor. He soon gains access to the boss’ secretary and pumps her for information about ways to get to the boss. This leads to a very energetic football number glorifying the boss’ alma mater, “Grand Old Ivy,” a very funny knitting scene and, ultimately, a coveted position at the company for Finch.
Meanwhile, Hedy La Rue, the boss’ blonde secretary, whose qualifications are “39-22-38,” becomes a party to an ambitious advertising scheme to attract customers with a treasure hunt for shares of company stock. Unfortunately, “Ms. Ditz” gives away the location of the stash in a television ad and mayhem ensues. Finch turns to his “bible” for help, but his fate ultimately rests in the outcome of a board meeting convened to fire him.
Finch, played by baby-faced Andrew Cownden, is Andy Hardy like in his song-laden role. Georgia Swinton, as the perky Rosemary, his long-suffering girlfriend, is solid and a perfect counterpoint to his emotionally distant character. Joel Wirkkunen is fantastic as Mr. Biggley, and Caitlin Clugston plays Smitty, the salt-of-the-earth type of secretary who has one of the best lines of the show. Victor Hunter plays the much-maligned boss’ nephew and Michael Wild is entertaining in his dual role as Mr. Twimble and Womper. Perhaps ironically, it is two female characters that stand out in this male-dominated world: Cailin Stadnyk, as a very sexy Hedy, with her high-pitched pipes and swaying hips, and Jennifer Suratos as Miss Jones, the boss’ secretary, who belts out a scat-jive number that rocked the house on opening night. In a clever move, the booming narrator’s voice is that of Peter Legge, local chief executive officer and success story in his own right.
The song and dance numbers are big and energetic, with highlights “Coffee Break,” “Brotherhood of Man” and the stylish “Paris Original.” The stage is a veritable mass of color and activity. The finale wows. As is the case with Legally Blonde, this is truly an ensemble production. It’s a great show, great cast and great staging – who could ask for anything more?
How to Succeed runs for two hours and 45 minutes. Tickets ($19-$44) are available by calling 604-696-4295 or visiting tuts.ca, where all the show information and the complete TUTS schedule can be found.
Tova G. Kornfeld is a Vancouver freelance writer and lawyer.
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