by Linda Chin
Tony Award winning musical Mame will soon enjoy another revival in Greater Boston at Reagle Music Theatre (June 14 – July 23), and though life “is a banquet” but comes with few guarantees, we theatergoers can be confident that a cast led by professional actors Leigh Barrett* (Mame Dennis), Maureen Keiller* (her “Bosom Buddy” Vera), and Mark Linehan* (her southern suitor Beau) will more than do justice to the theatrical jousting and joyous Jerry Herman score. The title song Mame is one of those first act finales that sends people humming and dancing into intermission (and inspires many spontaneous sing-a-longs), and the festive We Need a Little Christmas is one of those show tunes that’s become a holiday season staple. These two crowd-pleasing production numbers and Mame’s poignant solo, If He Walked Into My Life, are the three classics usually included in lists of top 100 Broadway musical hits from the 30s to 80s.
Licensing company Tams Witmark’s synopsis of Mame starts as follows: Mame is a happy happening. She is well-to-do, lives in New York at the peak of the 1920s, and is surprised by a wonderful present: her orphan nephew Patrick. When I asked Producing Artistic Director Bob Eagle (who was recognized at the 2018 IRNE & Norton Awards in honor of Reagle’s 50th anniversary) which acting duo needed to exhibit great chemistry to carry the storyline, his response was “definitely Mame and Young Patrick.” Yet most regional revivals of Mame focus on the talents of the three adult roles and are remembered for their renditions of the aforementioned three songs. I’ve often wondered why Young Patrick isn’t more of a headliner and why My Best Girl, first sung as a duet by Young Patrick and Mame and reprised twice by Older Patrick in Act 2 isn’t more of a signature number, especially when – fun fact – writers Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee originally titled their musical (based on the Patrick Dennis book Auntie Mame) My Best Girl. Other fun facts for us theater trivia geeks are that the three Tonys (of 8 nominations) Mame received in 1966 went to the actors who originated the roles of Mame, Vera, and Young Patrick – Angela Lansbury, Bea Arthur and Frankie Michaels. At age 10, Michaels (who passed away in 2016) was the youngest person ever to win the Tony, and still holds that record.
If the success of the production, and of songs like My Best Girl depend on the storytelling (through acting, song and movement/dance) capabilities of, and chemistry between Mame and Young Patrick, then the young actor playing Young Patrick may have the biggest shoes of all to fill. In the capable hands (and feet) of award-winning director/choreographer Eileen Grace, musical director Dan Rodriguez, and dance captain (and ensemble member) Taavon Gamble*, young actor Ben Choi-Harris gets great support to play opposite the legendary, larger-than-life Leigh Barrett, the 2018 Elliot Norton Prize Winner for Sustained Excellence.
A rising talent at age 11, sixth grader Ben Choi-Harris already has an impressive resume of his own, which includes a gig in The Christmas Story national tour last winter, two IRNE nominations in 2018 and 2019, and a long list of credits in professional productions. This season he played lead roles opposite impressive leading ladies (as Noah Gellman in Moonbox’s Caroline, or Change opposite Yewande Odetoyinbo* as Caroline, and Little Boy in WFT’s Ragtime opposite Lisa Yuen* as Mother). Choi-Harris and Barrett last performed together in Lyric’s Gypsy, but as Newsboy/Clarence with Barrett as Mama Rose, they were not stage partners with a mentee-mentor or son-maternal figure relationship. The pair’s storytelling skills shine through in the production photos, and I can’t wait to see Patrick learning from his Auntie Mame how to tango – and mix a martini – on the Reagle stage.
Ben lights up when he recalls his callback:
“It was so much fun taking turns with 3 other boys to read and sing for the role of Young Patrick Dennis. Reagle’s producing artistic director, the show’s director and the musical director were in the room. Then the actress, Leigh Barrett, who is playing the lead role arrived, and they asked me to stay and read with her. I was so excited, and a little nervous, because it has been a dream of mine to be in another show with Leigh ever since we were in Gypsy together 2 years ago. As we did the comedic scene where I mix a martini, I started to feel that Leigh and I had a special ‘chemistry’ and really clicked. I recently saw Mame at another theater with my good friend playing Young Patrick. I loved the show! I kept thinking wouldn’t it be amazing if there was an opportunity in the future where Leigh Barrett played the title character… and during the audition I realized that there was a possibility I could maybe be lucky enough to actually be in Mame with her! When I got the part, it was so exciting because I know how amazing Leigh is as an actress, and she is so nice and such a great teacher. I just love working on this show and learning from Leigh and the rest of my castmates and the creative team. We youth actors are so lucky to have opportunities to learn from the professionals we work with. They are so generous and inspiring.”
Knowing how much talent and heart the Mame cast and creative team possess, audience members should be prepared to have a very enjoyable time. And knowing Leigh Barrett and Ben Choi-Harris’ genuine affection and admiration for each other, and gratitude for the opportunity to be together on the Reagle stage, I’d also suggest being prepared – with tissues – for their rendition of My Best Girl.
Young Patrick/Ben Choi-Harris:
You’re my best girl and nothing you do is wrong,
I’m proud you belong to me;
And if a day is rough for me,
Having you there’s enough for me.
And if someday another girl comes along,
It won’t take her long to see,
That I’ll still be found, just hanging around
My best girl.
Mame/Leigh Barrett:
You’re my best beau, you’re handsome and brave
and strong,
There’s nothing we two can’t face;
If you’re with me, whatever comes,
We’ll see that trouble never comes.
And if someday another beau comes along
Determined to take your place,
I hope he’s resigned to falling behind,
My best beau.
Leigh and Ben:
And if someday when everything turns out wrong,
You’re through with the human race,
Come running to me,
Leigh: For I’ll always be
Your best girl…
Ben:My best girl!
