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MAME
Book by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee
Music & lyrics by Jerry Herman
Directed by William Osetek
Music Direction by Ben Johnson
Choreographed by Kenny Ingram
At Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre
100 Drury Lane
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Call 630-530-0111 www.drurylaneoakbrook.com
Tickets $29- $31 - $33
Wednesday at 1:30pm
Thursdays at 1:30 & 8 pm
Fridays at 8:30pm
Saturdays at 5 & 8:30 pm
Sundays at 2 & 6 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission
Through December 21, 2008
“Life is a banquet!” –Mame Dennis
An old chestnut comes to life with “Mame”
It has been much too long since anyone mounted Jerry Herman’s classic musical “Mame.” This show has a wonderful score and it features one of musical theatre’s most beloved eccentrics—Mame Dennis. Based on the 1955 best selling novel (112 weeks on the Best Seller list), “Auntie Mame” by Patrick Dennis become a stage comedy starring Rosalind Russell in 1956. (Russell also did the film.) The musical, with a stellar score and lyrics by Jerry Herman (“Hello Dolly” & “La Cage aux Folles”), starred Angela Lansbury (who won a Tony Award for the role) opened in 1966 to great acclaim.
Director William Osetek smartly picked veteran Chicago actress Barbara Robertson to play Mame. This was a wise choice since we must love the charmingly eccentric Mame in order for the play to be effective. Barbara Robertson is the energetic, funny and free-spirited soul who sweeps us off out feet with her charm and love for life. Robertson plays Mame as a bold, strong-willed lady determined to live every moment life has to offer. Her life is turned into turmoil by two events in the late 1929’s: her brother’s son, Patrick (Liam Byrnes) comes to live with her and she gets financially wiped out by the Crash of 1929. She quickly bonds with young Patrick as she is determined to raise him as a free spirit. She finds work not too pleasing but she persists since she is broke. Her life turns around when she meets Burnside (David Kortemeier), a wealthy Southerner. She spends years traveling the world with him as Patrick grows into a man. Mame returns when Burnside is killed in the Alps. She sees that Patrick might marry a WASP snob from Connecticut. She plots with her best friend Vera Charles (Alene Robertson) to thwart the marriage.
“Mame” is a musical treasure with terrific songs like the rousing “It’s Today,” a tribute to the celebration of life in the hedonistic 1920’s. The lovely “My Best Girl” demonstrates Patrick’s love for Mame. The classic Christmas “We Need a Little Christmas” is a celebratory march to the holiday. The southern tribute to Mame as she charms the Burnside clan—“Mame” is a most memorable anthem.
Act two finds Mame and Vera reconciling by singing the cleverly witty song to friendship—“Bosom Buddies.” Alene and Barbara are terrific in this number. Barbara Robertson nails the emotionally wrenching “If He Walked Into My Life” most effectively.
As you might expect, Mame prevails with all of her ‘projects.’ This hilarious story of the Manhattan socialite turned guardian unfolds as a whirlwind high energy musical treat. There is fine 20’s & 30’s style dances and a wonderfully thrilling act one finale dance number praising Mame. Kenny Ingram’s choreography here is first-rate and Ben Johnson’s orchestra did Jerry Herman’s score justice. The production values at Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre are exquisite. The two Robertson’s are terrific. For $29- $33 per ticket, you’ll not find a more polished Broadway musical. This chestnut is will leave you humming the tunes long after seeing the show.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2008
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