No No Nanette: Great Cast, Dumb Show

Over the weekend, I caught No No Nanette as part of the Encores series at City Center. Although I often briefly address the show in my BoCo course (there usually isn't much time, what with having to cover Show Boat during that particular session), I had never actually seen it. Overall it reminded me why we never really see too many revivals of 1920s shows: they suck. No, No, Nanette is one of the very few to have survived, and it's not very good either. It's mildly amusing, but hardly engaging.

Although the Encores folk have chosen to use Burt Shevelove's heavily rewritten book for the 1971 revival, No, No, Nanette still plays like a creaky period piece. It's essentially innocuous, warmed-over farce: the plot complications aren't credible, even for farce, so there's no dramatic tension. Yeah, in musical comedy everything usually works out, but there has to be even the suggestion of a possibility that it might not. Or else what's the point? The songs and the dances arise with scant justification, and since this is the revised version, it's a bit more fair to judge the show by modern standards of integration and cohesion.

The main attractions at this particular production are Randy Skinner's tap choreography, the sprightly-but-staid songs by Vincent Youmans, Otto Harbach and Irving Caesar, and the cast of stellar performers. I've long been an admirer of Skinner's work, which is lively and varied. The guy really knows how to dress a stage. And the songs include such effervescent gems as "Tea for Two," "I Want to Be Happy," "Take a Little One Step," and "You Can't Dance With Any Girl."

As for the cast, I must admit a bias towards the wonderful Beth Leavel, who stole the show a few seasons back in The Drowsy Chaperone. I'm happy to report that Leavel here shows the same sparkle, the same command of the stage and comic timing that one her the Tony Award. Another standout was the delightful Sandy Duncan, who more than keeps up with the chorus of hoofers who are all easily 40 years her junior. (Oh, and according to her Playbill bio, she does NOT in fact have a glass eye, contrary to popular myth.)

The very talented Mara Davi was bright but bland in the admittedly underwritten title role. Shonn Wiley is quite a discovery as Nanette's beau: gorgeous voice, terrific arch style, and a great dancer. Likewise light on his feet was Michael Berresse in the role played by Bobby Van in the 1971 revival. I've seen Berrese numerous times (Chicago, Kiss Me Kate, The Light in the Piazza, A Chorus Line), and this was by far his most assured and breezy performance.

As for Rosie O'Donnell, well, let's just say it was nice that she was there to help sell tickets. She's a game performer, but you can really tell she's not stage-trained. There was no nuance to her delivery: it was all just blunt wisecracks. (Full disclosure: I was once laid off because of Rosie. I worked at the same company that published the abortive Rosie magazine, and because she flaked, they lost millions of dollars, had to consolidate, and I and many dear friends got dumped in the process. In truth, the company screwed up big-time, but Rosie didn't help with her erratic, mercurial behavior.)

Finally, a special shout out to two of my former BoCo students who were in the Nanette chorus: Luke Hawkins and Ryan Malyar. Guys, it was great to see you cheek-by-jowl with so many great performers, and you more than held your own in the process. In fact, you shone. Here's hoping there are more great things in both of your respective futures.

Comments

[SarahB]

It IS a dumb story, but I absolutely didn't care because the entertainment value completely overshadowed the silly story. The cast, costumes, and choreography delivered such a bright, pretty, and absolutely fun package that my hurt from smiling so much.

[JoeyfromVA]

The show was fantastic! Yes, it doesn't have the greatest story/plot, but who cares! The sets, tap dancing, and Rosie made this show fantastic! Her wise-cracks were funny and she was very gracious after the show!:)

[chris caggiano]

Eh, what can I say? I wasn't buying it. I had fun, but I was always aware I was watching a dinosaur gallumph its way across the stage. I certainly had fun, but I like a meal before my dessert.

[Jose C]

It was good clean fun. Sit back and enjoy the play.

By the way I thought about the history of the play and how the original play of No No Nanette(in the early 1900's)was financed by the sale by Harry Frazee of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees.

The Yankees can thank their successful history to the play No No Nanette.