Review: 'The Drowsy Chaperone' by Goshen Players

Goshen, CT - The Goshen Players are presenting an outstanding production of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, the light comedy billed as “a musical within a comedy” through the matinee on Nov. 3. The comedy and the music makes this show well-worth a trip to the rotary in Goshen to catch one of the three remaining performances if you can secure a ticket. The matinee I attended was sold out despite it being a very rainy Sunday.

The musical includes charming music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a clever book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. Ed Bassett, a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America, directed in Goshen for the first time and Jim Luurtsema steered the ship downstairs at the Old Goshen Town Hall while serving as the music director. The very un-drowsy choreography was designed by Peggy Terhune (choreography for IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU) and Scott Stanchfield was the rehearsal accompanyist.

“THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is a show that will not make you smarter. It will make you re-evaluate your life or refocus your goals. It will make you smile, you will be tapping your toes and you will be humming this music for the next week (sorry ‘bout that.) It’s an escape from the mundane, if only for a couple of hours and I hope you enjoy your short visit with the Man in the Chair.” - Ed Bassett, Director

Mr. Bassett describes the nature of the show very well. Lynne Wilson, the president of the Goshen Players notes in her “word of welcome and thanks” in the printed program that the show has been called “a parody of American musical comedy of the 1920s, a loving send-up of the Jazz Age musical. We hope you enjoy this ‘play within a play.’” I certainly agree with the adjective “loving” and might add “gentle,” but it still remains extremely funny, thanks to the sly comments by the Man in the Chair, here played with the strong sense of comic timing of community theatre veteran Tim Phillips. Mr. Phillips returns to this stage for the first time since his 2006 portrayal of Officer Lockstock in URINETOWN and often appears at Phoenix Stage Company.

“I hate theatre…” - opening line of Man in the Chair

The Goshen cast was a collection of the top talent in the community theatre realm, most of whom I have enjoyed on many stages for many years; the newcomers to this stage easily slid into the level of professionalism of their fellow veterans.

James Woods and David Nichols (in his stage debut at Goshen) were a riot as the two gangsters posing as pastry chefs. Cheyenne Walent made the most of what she calls a bucket list role of the title character, the chaperone who brings along her own bootleg booze that makes her drowsy. Cheers to this fine actress with a big voice on a stellar performance. Stephanie J. Varanelli, a fine singer recently seen at Seven Angels in WATR’s Showstoppers, stepped out of the ensemble to play the role of Trix the Aviatrix quite well in her Goshen debut.

I was very impressed with the Goshen debut of Austin Tewksbury in the role of the groom Robert Martin. I was equally impressed with the tap dancing of Alex Polzum in his Goshen Players debut in the role of George, the best man. The two actors sported complimentary checked suit in jewel tones that perfectly matched their characters.

The fabulous mustache of Steve Sorriero was perfect for his role as Feldzieg; I never tire of his always spot-on performances. Mr. Sorriero appeared in the wonderful Goshen production of IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU and a slew of other great shows in the area. Chrissy Flynn (STEEL MAGNOLIAS, OCTETTE BRIDGE CLUB) took on several roles as a member of the ensemble and got to wear some of the loveliest sparkly ensembles of the roaring twenties.

Jane Coughlin brought her adorable charm to the role of Mrs. Tottendale and played the role as it was meant to be presented. Ms. Coughlin dedicates her marvelous performance to the memory of Kathy Cook “who was the first Mrs. Tottendale I ever saw on stage. She made me fall in love with this role, so here’s a spit take for you, Kathy.” Emily Diedrich (OCTETTE BRIDGE CLUB at Phoenix Stage Company, Casey in FIRST DATE in Goshen) was delicious in the role of the ditzy performer-wanna-be Kitty. Ms. Diedrich will reprise her role of Lorraine Warren (with her husband Ian as Ed Warren) for the Travel Channel’s series “Most Terrifying Place in America;” the episode will air on Halloween night, so tune in.

It was a treat to see the talented Roger Grace once again on the Goshen stage in the role of Mrs. T’s Underling. He was so memorable in the role of the Wedding Planner in IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, and was a riot as Lord Farquaad in SHREK at Richter this summer. Martha Irving made her Goshen debut in the role of Janet van de Graaf, who doesn’t wanna “Show Off” no more, but really does. Ms. Irving, last seen as Levora Verona in DISASTER! at the Warner, definitely showed off her fabulous singing voice in the role. Kudos to this actress on a wonderful performance.

And then there is the fabulous Chuck Stango bringing to life the big character of Adolfo, “the man of 1,000 accents and all of them insulting.” I smiled when he entered the stage in his costume with the red cape and dark wig and couldn’t stop laughed as he stomped the stage floor and chewed the scenery every time he was on the stage. Mr. Stango’s previous credits in Goshen include LI’L ABNER, WORKING, I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE (one of my favorites,) and SYLVIA directed by Johnny O and reports that he is “thrilled to be back where this crazy theatre hobby started 11 years ago,” a fact that I did not know about one of my favorite performers.

Goshen always puts together a finely detailed set that fills the stage and this one was no exception, an apartment for Man with an extensive record collection that rivals my son CJ’s, framed black and white photos of stars, and an old radiator. It actually fit nicely into the venue with its wooden floors and comfortable cabaret seating.

At the performance I attended, Mr. Brian Elser filled in for Wes Baldwin in the walk on role of the super of Man’s apartment building, as well as singing in the pit with Kimberly Parsons Whitacker, Lana Peck, Beckie Wallace and Kate Luurtsema. The musicians in the orchestra included Mr. Stanchfield on keyboards, Mr. Luurtsema on keyboard, tuba, bass trombone, Don Amodio on drum kit and percussion, Richard Scarola on bass, Tigger Kluessendorf, Shannon Copeland on reeds, and Jeff Grubin on trombone.

During his curtain speech, Treasurer of the Goshen Board of Directors Michael C. Accousti instructed the audience to acknowledge the orchestra downstairs by stomping on the wooden floor during the curtain call. This seemed like it would be overwhelming to the musicians and pit singers seating under us, but Ms. Peck assured me that it sounds like rain on the roof and they enjoy it, so I needn’t have worried. Mr. Accousti welcomed us to the performance on such a “raw” day and hoped that we would be “rawfully glad that you came today.” I certainly was delighted that I could squeeze in a performance and everyone in the packed matinee agreed.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

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