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My Favorite Year
Book by Joseph Daugherty
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Directed by David Zak
Choreographed by Annie Hackett
Music Direction by Robert Ollis
At Bailiwick Repertory
1229 W. Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL
Call 773-883-1090, tickets $25 - $30
Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 pm
Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 3:30 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 10 minutes with intermission
Through April 14, 2007
Charming, old style musical comedy delights
Bailiwick Repertory, under David Zak’s smart leadership, has mounted many stage worthy large-scale musicals without the aid of large budgets and Equity actors. His latest achievement is My Favorite Year staring the talented young actor/composer Michael Mahler. This is a cute, tuneful ambitious show full of laughs, fine singing and terrific dancing. It is an old fashion musical comedy filled with large scale show stoppers, lots of laughs with lovable characters. Michael Mahler’s boyish charming persona makes Benjy Stone an empathetic character.
The story line has Benjy’s remembering his days as a junior writer in 1954 for TV’s King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade (aka the Sid Caesar Show). The story has winks toward Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Benjy has the daunting task of baby-sitting film star Alan Swann (Kevin Mayes in a terrific performance) whose guest appearance on the show will be broadcast live to 20 million people. Swann is a reckless drunk and womanizer who becomes Bemjy’s responsibility.The two bond as Benjy gets a rare look at Swann’s broken heart that allows Benjy insights into human frailty, tragedy as well as love and comedy.
The journey Benjy and Swann take is splendidly sung and danced by the large and aspiring cast that director David Zak has propelling from one energetic number to another into a most entertaining and tuneful show. I especially liked the sharp comedy and the excellent dancing from the large ensemble. This non-Equity production delivers enough traditional Broadway to satisfy. Brian Simmons’ King Kaiser, Megan Long’s K. C. together with Susan Veronika Adler’s Belle offered fine supporting work. My Favorite Year is really Michael Mahler’s show and he delivers a warm and fuzzy performance. For a $25 - $30 ticket price, you’d be hard pressed to see a better show. You’ll laugh and tap your toes to the cute Steven Flaherty score. I liked this show and so will you.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2007
Jeff Recommended
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