A for Effort

NYC -- I arrived in New York City this evening for a week-long arts journalism course. Class started right away at the Marriot Marquis Theatre. We attended the Broadway show, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” which is a harebrained comedy about a starlet who, on the day of her wedding, questions whether she really wants to be married. The show’s title is in reference to bride-to-be’s confidant (a maid of honor of sorts) who is perpetually drunk. Rather than consoling the bride, the Drowsy Chaperone imparts disheartening yet comical words of wisdom. Meanwhile, all sorts of silliness unfolds in the household where the ceremony is to take place.
The entire show is a figment of the narrator’s imagination. The narrator is a lonely guy and Broadway buff who pulls out an old record of his favorite musical. As the show tunes play, the production comes to life in his living room.
I really wanted to love this show. It’s loaded with all of the elements that make a musical worth the pricey ticket – sparkly costumes, sumptuous sets, lively music, a well-acted script. Yet, I wasn’t electrified. I hardly laughed. Many of the jokes were corny and predictable and overall, the show felt a bit flat.
I prefer productions with more edge, more sass. “The Drowsy Chaperone” is like riding one of those puny rollercoasters at Disneyland. Fun, but hardly thrilling. (JM)