Review: 'The Drowsy Chaperone' a Perfect Way to Spend a Summer Night

Granite Theatre's production of "The Drowsy Chaperone" is a complete delight, a loving and satirical tribute to old fashioned musical theater.

The show debuted on Broadway in 2006 and won five Tony Awards, including Best Book of a Musical and Best Score. The music and lyrics are by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and the book is by Bob Martin and Don McKellar.

All of the action takes place in a tiny apartment occupied by a middle-aged man, known only as Man in Chair (Alexander Pimentel). On the record player, he plays the cast album of "The Drowsy Chaperone," a 1920s musical.

The performers in the show appear in the kitchen and tell a zany story about brides and grooms, gangsters (Jonathan Hart and Trey DiGioia) masquerading as pastry chefs, a pilot (Joyll Smith) who performs wedding ceremonies, and other oddballs.

The Man in Chair stops the action a few times to share his keen insights and observations about the show, the actors and actresses, and the affection he has for musicals. Pimentel is witty and charming in the role. He guides us through this crazy assortment of characters and gets in on the fun himself quite often.

Laura Thompson is Janet Van De Graff, a musical starlet engaged to Robert (Elijah Russel). While blindfolded and on roller skates, Robert kisses a French woman, Mimi. Only, it turns out Janet was pretending to be Mimi. Meanwhile, Janet's producer Mr. Feldzieg (Eric Nayden) attempts to sabotage the union by recruiting Adolpho, an Italian loathario, to seduce Janet. Instead, he mistakes The Drowsy Chaperone (Jessica Gates) for Janet. They fall in love.

There is also the perpetually forgetful Mrs. Tottendale (Marlo Dennis), the dimwitted aspiring actress, Kitty (Carly Mastriano), George (William Pereira), Robert's best man, and Tottendale's long-suffering but loyal servant (Richard Springman).

Director Marla Ladd has worked well with the ensemble, and gives everyone a chance to shine. Thompson gets a real powerhouse musical number when Janet expresses her desire to leave the spotlight; George Sanchez generates a lot of laughs as Adolpho attempts to romance The Drowsy Chaperone; and Gates and Sanchez have a palpable chemistry in their scenes.

The design work is also noteworthy. Pandora Spock's set design is imaginative, and Jane Mandes' costumes are evocative of the 1920s. Tottendale wears a hilariously oversized dress which has to be seen to be believed, and praise must also be given to Nicole DiMattei's sparkling choreography and musical accompaniment by Lynn Dowding and Curt Dumas.

"The Drowsy Chaperone" excels in every area, and is a perfect way to spend a summer night.

"The Drowsy Chaperone" runs through August 4. Granite Theatre, 1 Granite St., Westerly, RI. For tickets, call 401-596-2341.