The Drowsy Chaperone

Sometimes I get incredibly tired of working in theater. You know, worn out from rejection or wondering if I'll ever really be good enough to make a living and, really, is it worth the effort to even try?
That's when I see a show like this one.
The show begins with a three minute blackout. Out of the darkness you hear a voice say, "I hate the theater." Aha! My recent sentiments exactly!
When the lights come up, you see a single man, sitting in a somewhat dreary apartment. Something I think that most of us can identify with- because at some point in our lives most of us have been poor. Especially now.
"Man in chair (as he is affectionately known)," played by the marvelous David Schmittou, plays a record from the fictitious 1928 musical, "The Drowsy Chaperone." Immediately the stage is transformed before us into the set of the musical, using clever set pieces that still match or are actually a part of the apartment.
The characters in "The Drowsy Chaperone" are stupendous, albeit one-dimensional (which is purposeful and one of the running gags throughout the show).

We have a European lover (self-proclaimed "King of Romance"), Aldolpho
(Edward Juvier).

Who is hired to seduce the bride, but instead stumbles upon the Chaperone
(Christianne Tisdale).

The bride, Janet (Tari Kelly), is leaving a life on the stage to get married, but two gangsters (Ben Nordstrom and Michael Baxter) are hired to make sure she doesn't.

Then there's the groom, Robert (David Elder) and his best man, George (Brian Ogilvie)- who just wants to make sure the wedding runs as planned.

There are many many more amazing performers, but not many many more hours for me to write about them.

The show really does what a musical "should do." For two hours you take an amazing journey with Man in chair, not only seeing the musical unfold, but getting bits of back story and witty quirps from our charming host.
I love this story because I connect with Man in Chair in so many ways throughout the show, as I think most people do. As Jack Lane, our producer, articulated, "We all have something that takes us away." For Man in Chair and for me, that happens to be a great musical. Which is exactly what this cast and crew has brought to Stages.
Go see this show. If you've never been to Stages, I can guarantee that you will leave wondering how you've lived without this place your whole theater life. And, as Man in Chair so aptly says as he closes the show:
"...it gives you a little tun to carry with in your head, you know? A little something to help you escape from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something... for when you're feeling blue. You know?"

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