By Christy Hudson
CenterPointe Legacy Theatre in Centerville, Utah, presents Crazy for You, a musical based on the music of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. It is based on the Gershwin brothers’ 1930 musical Girl Crazy, but it incorporates some of their songs from other musicals as well. The book is by Ken Ludwig. Crazy for You originally opened on Broadway on February 19, 1992, at the Shubert Theatre, and won the Tony Award for Best Musical that year.
Crazy for You is a romantic comedy about Bobby Child, who comes from a banking family, but who only wants to sing and dance on Broadway. After being rejected by big-time Broadway producer Bela Zangler, Bobby is given the task to go to a Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on an old theater. Once he arrives, he immediately falls in love with the theater’s owner, Polly Baker. He wants to help her save her theater, but she does not believe him and immediately rejects him. So naturally Bobby decides to disguise himself as Zangler, enlist in the help of his Folly-friends, and put on a big show at the theater in order to make enough money to save it, and also to get Polly to fall in love with him. What ensues is a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications, making it difficult for Bobby to win Polly, and for Polly to save her theater.
Fred Lee stars as Bobby Child, and his energy and charisma propel the show forward. He is so entertaining to watch and is immediately likeable. His portrayal of the character is spot-on, and becomes the backbone of the whole production. Polly Baker is played by Landry Thomas, who is both sweet and sassy. She is the quintessential heroine, very charming and easily loved. Lee and Thomas share several dances together, and they move so well together and have great chemistry, so it is easy to root for their characters to be together. They both also have great singing voices that blend together so well, and perfectly fit their characters.
There is also an array of supporting characters. Bela Zangler is played by Adam West, who definitely stands out as one of the funniest characters and takes part in some of the most memorable scenes. Hailey Weeks plays Irene Roth, Bobby’s ruthless former fiancé who won’t accept their engagement is over, and who takes immense joy in making sarcastic remarks to anyone who tries to insult her, particularly with Lank Hawkins, the owner of the saloon and hotel, played by Clayton Gerrard. Their rivalry and constant attempts to one-up each other through insults produces a lot of the biggest laughs.
The ensemble is one of the strongest elements of the production, and a lot of the funniest aspects of the show come through them. Watching the Follies try to turn the Cowboys into dancers is hysterical. The Cowboys take pleasure in recreating Old West-style shootouts, and pretending to shoot each other with blanks. And who couldn’t love a show featuring singing cowboys? Their introduction song, “Bidin’ My Time,” is harmonized so perfectly. The whole ensemble blends together so well, and they add so much life to the production.
This production is very well-directed by Jim Christian, who also serves as the musical director. Scott Van Dyke is the executive producer, and Krista Davies is the associate producer and production manager. Seth Miller is the lighting designer. The set is designed by Ricky Parkinson, and the costumes are designed by Laurie Oswald. Derek Walden is the sound designer and technical director.
The dance numbers are very important in this kind of show. Crazy for You features several dance numbers, particularly tap dance numbers. Personally, I’m a big fan of tap dance numbers, because I have tap danced since a young age. When I get to see shows that incorporate a lot of tap dancing, I watch the feet closely. Choreographer Jessica Merrill has done a wonderful job at putting these numbers together. They are absolutely delightful. I don’t think it’s possible for someone to be grumpy when watching them. One of my favorites was “Slap That Bass,” in which the Follies are trying to teach the Cowboys to dance for their show. There are a lot of funny and clever moments throughout the dance that make it incredibly enjoyable.
There are several standout scenes in the show. The big dance number is “I Got Rhythm,” which takes place at the end of the first act. The actors create the “rhythm” using tin dishes, brooms, saws, washboards, etc. It is a lot like Stomp, if Stomp took place in the old-timey West, and if they used actual tap shoes. There are so many different things that happen throughout this number, and it is so much fun (this dance is choreographed by Christian).
The greatest number of laughs arguably came from the scene in the second act featuring the song “What Causes That,” sung by Bobby and Zangler, who are both incredibly drunk. Lee and West sell this scene so hilariously well. Physical comedy is used a lot throughout the whole show, and this scene may be the best example of it.
There were only a few small production problems. One of the Cowboys’ microphones did not work for the whole performance, and there was a problem with some props in one of the dance numbers. However, these sorts of things happen in live theatre, especially on opening night. I feel the cast handled everything perfectly, and I’m sure they will fix anything they need to for their future performances.
Admittedly, Crazy for You does not have the strongest plot. There are inconsistencies with characters, and things that don’t make sense. There is not a lot of depth. But not every show has to delve into the human psyche to have quality. A show can still be enjoyed and loved if it is simple.
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CenterPointe Legacy Theatre’s production of Crazy for You is incredibly entertaining and fun. I smiled throughout all of it, and I genuinely laughed out loud several times. In fact, the entire audience laughed a lot through the whole show. And all I want to do now is crack out my old tap shoes, put them on, and show the world that I, too, got rhythm. Because those people down at the CenterPointe Legacy Theatre certainly got rhythm, beautiful singing, and infectious dancing.
CenterPointe Theatre Presents Crazy for You, Music by George Gershwin, Lyrics by Ira Gershwin, Book by Ken Ludwig
CenterPointe Legacy Theatre, 525 North 400 West, Centerville, UT, 84014
June 15-July 14, Monday-Saturday, 7:30 PM, 2:30 PM Saturday Matinee
Tickets: $17.50-$27.00
Contact: 801-298-1302
CenterPoint Legacy Theatre Facebook Page
Ken Ludwig
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