The Drowsy Chaperone (SVCT)
February 24-March 18, South Valley Civic Theatre (Morgan Hill)
SVCT’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone is running at the Morgan Hill Playhouse from Feb 24-Mar 18th.
While many of us hadn’t previously heard of the show, it was nominated for multiple Broadway and West End theatre awards, winning five Tony Awards and seven Drama Desk Awards for its 2006 Broadway run. It is a Canadian musical with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, and a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar.
The story features a depressed musical theater fan alone in his apartment who, feeling "blue", decides to play for the audience a record of his favorite musical, the fictional 1928 show The Drowsy Chaperone. As the record plays, the show - a parody of 1920s American musical comedy - comes to life onstage, with the man providing commentary about his favorite parts, the actors, etc.
Co-Producers: Ken Christopher, Malisha Kumar, Ingrid Rottman
Director: Alan Chipman
Vocal Director: Lynette Oliphant
Choreographer: Christine Carrillo
Costume Designer: Michelle Griffin
Set Designer: Jenn Oliphant
Prop Designer: Lorraine Bell
Cast
Man in Chair: Peter Mandel
Janet Van de Graff: Nicole King-Yarbrough/Verose Deslonde
The Drowsy Chaperone: Ingrid Rottman
Robert Martin: Ken Christopher
George: Mark Wong Sang Kai
Mrs. Tottendale: Jenn Oliphant
Underling: Spencer Oliphant
Feldzieg: Henry Jaramillo
Kitty: Riley Brown
Adolpho: Jason Eves
Trix: Lili Maupin
Superintendent: Robin Harris
Gangsters: Kora Raymond & Marcus Horta
Ensemble: Ashlen Hsu, Chloe Oliphant, Chloe Grotz, Clair Oliphant, Elia Laskly, Natalie Fitzgibbons
Notes:
Jenn Oliphant did an amazing job with the set design, including (spoiler alert!) a spectacular airplane that rolls in. The set build and load-in process was the most organized I’ve seen done. People pop out of the fridge, cabinets, and from a secret bookcase door. Even the notes she left on the set supplies in the warehouse to keep other folks from walking off with them for other shows were hysterically funny. Plus she is absolutely adorable on stage as Mrs. Tottendale, including really giant spit takes that spray all over her very good sport of a husband Spencer.
The costumes (Michelle Griffin) and props (Lorraine Bell) are gorgeous. Highlights include a scene with multiple costume changes in a row (mostly on stage!), super sparkly aviator outfits, and some gorgeous fake ice cream sundaes.
Peter Mandel (last seen in The Outsider and Cabaret) does a great job as The Man in Chair narrating the show and providing commentary as his apartment turns into a glittering, over the top musical in his imagination. That’s a LOT of monologues to remember.
Riley Brown is adorable as The Incomprehensible Kitty, a chorus girl desperate for her shot as leading lady.
Lots of our friends from last fall’s Honk Jr have moved up from the kids show to shine in the ensemble of this show — Ashlen H., Chloe G. & Clair O. — and then joined in the crew by Brennan O. on spotlight and Matthew H. and Miriam on deck crew. They’re joined by Chloe O. (who had been instrumental behind the scenes at Honk).
It’s a bit of a reunion from SVCT’s 2019 production of Gypsy as well, where Ingrid Rottman had played Mama Rose, Marcus Horta had been “Magic Boy” and “Rich Boy”, Lili Maupin had been one of the newsboys and Geraldine, Natalie Fitzgibbons had been Yonkers, Carol Ann, and a showgirl. (Gypsy was the first SVCT show we were involved with)
We’re serving 1920’s inspired concessions — fancy cocktails and mocktails (Bee’s Knees, Gin Rickeys, Gimlets, etc.) and candies that were popular in the 1920s (Butterfingers, Baby Ruths, and even Moon Pies)
It’s a fun, silly, show with lots of fun songs that are now stuck in my head… come watch!
Clara’s running lights and projections for the show, Miriam’s on the deck crew (I’ve been helping out there too), and I was the concessions manager (and spent opening weekend mixing drinks).