The easiest thing in the world is writing a review of a show you love - which means this review of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is going to be a snap!
The original musical comedy was staged on Broadway in the ‘60s and retains that sweet, funny, nostalgic feel.
It tells the story of a window washer - J. Pierrepont Finch - who decides to climb the corporate ladder by following the lessons in a self-help book. Finch is perfectly played by Clay McKnight - he exudes the youthful enthusiasm and idealism needed for the role. It would be easy for Finch to come off as a schemer or something of a cad, but McKnight manages to make the character likable and genuine. It doesn’t hurt that he’s also a terrific singer and dancer.
Finch steps into the corporate world via a company that would be right at home in a Dilbert comic strip - a huge organization where no one actually seems to do any real work (unless executives chasing secretaries counts as work).
Through a combination of luck, guidance from his book and some fast talking, Finch manages to move up the ladder at amazing speed - despite the efforts of the boss’ nephew, played with wicked delight by Stephen Vance.
Finch almost immediately stumbles onto his love interest, Rosemary the secretary, played sweetly by Jocelyn Knapp, who gets several chances to show off her wonderful singing voice.
The show features an All-Star cast, including:
- Mike Murdock as Mr. Biggley, the boss of the company. You can never go wrong putting him in a starring role - he’s an excellent singer and one of the finest actors around, and his comic timing is superb. I almost hit the floor laughing just watching him walk on the stage for the “Old Ivy” song, and his reactions to the growing disasters around him are hilarious.
- Marnie Riddell as Hedy LaRue provides equal measures of sex appeal and comic relief. She lands like a bombshell in Mr. Biggley’s company (due in no small part to the fact that she’s his mistress), and causes consternation among the males just by walking (or wiggling) across a room.
- Eric Wilson as Gatch deserves a special mention because I’ve known Eric since he was a kid and I didn’t realize he was playing this part - he disappeared completely into the pot-bellied, balding executive who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. A brilliant performance!
- Gene Anthony as Wally Womper, the “big boss” - he doesn’t show up until late in the show, but his performance a pure delight - it’s worth the price of admission alone. (To say more would spoil the surprises ahead.)
There are a number of other outstanding performances, with special kudos to the supporting cast - the secretaries and executives turn in wonderful vocal performances, and I love the choreography in the show - it’s all period appropriate and evokes the time period perfectly.
One of the most challenging things about this show is the number of set changes required, and the directing team and the tech crew has done a great job overcoming that difficulty, cleverly making maximum use of the stage to make quick changes, and using creative designs to make it all work - I especially loved the solution for the “reversible” elevator, which plays a key role in one song.
The show features a 13-piece orchestra, led by the wonderfully talented Lara Donahoe, and they’re outstanding - one of the most impressive I’ve heard in recent years.
So, lots of laughs, great songs, excellent dancing, terrific performers - it’s a wonderful show for the whole family that will lift your spirits and leave you smiling! Kudos to the cast, crew and directing team (including director Bil Neal and choreographer Coni Anthony) for putting together a top-notch (and very funny) show!
Highly recommended!
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