Go and Meet Those Dancing Feet – Ogunquit’s ’42nd Street’ is a Gem

by Mike Hoban

42nd Street – Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics by Al Dubin, Book by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble, Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes; Original Direction and Dances by Gower Champion; Originally produced on Broadway by David Merrick; Director/Choreographer, Randy Skinner; Associate Choreographer, Sara Brians; Music Director, Jeffrey Campos; Original Scenic Design, Douglas Schmidt; Lighting Design, Richard Latta; Costume Design, Roger Kirk; Sound Design, Ed Chapman. Presented by Ogunquit Playhouse, Rte. 1, Ogunquit, Maine through July 13.

From its wildly energetic opening number to the big finale featuring the title song, the Ogunquit production of 42^nd Street is everything you’d want from a BIG summer musical. Killer dance routines with an army of glitzily costumed hoofers, one of the genre’s best known and loved scores performed with verve by a deep and talented cast, a megawatt Broadway star (Rachel York) at the top of her game, and a storyline as light as the cotton candy at a traveling carnival.

Summer is the time when theaters typically trot out the tried and true classics, and for someone who came to the party somewhat late in life (I literally never saw Oklahoma until a few years ago), it’s been critical for both my musical theater education as well as my enjoyment. Despite being an Oscar-nominated 1933 Busby Berkeley film musical (with Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers), 42nd Street was not adapted for the stage until 1980, and it won the Tony. The production retains all of the politically incorrect dialogue from the 30’s (highlighted by the boys singing of ‘Dames”) and it works beautifully as a ‘Hey Kids! Let’s put on a Show!’ period piece.

For those unfamiliar with the story, small town girl Peggy (a terrific Jessica Wockenfuss) comes to Broadway looking for her first job, wows ‘em and miraculously gets cast in the chorus on her first day in the big city, takes over for the star when she breaks her ankle and knocks ‘em dead. Along the way she crosses the show’s diva star Dorothy Brock (an ultra-glam York) and falls for a fella on her way to stardom. Sound plausible? Of course not, but that’s the campy fun of musical comedy theater – this ain’t no Les Miz.

Directed and choreographed by Randy Skinner (who did the choreography for the 2001 Broadway revival), with music direction by Jeffrey Campos (who also handled those duties for the magnificent production of Ogunquit’s Ragtime in 2017), this is about as much fun as you can have at the theater. For someone whose not usually a huge fan of tap-heavy shows, the routines are fairly electric, and the brilliance of Campos’ work is most evident during the full cast numbers – they just soar. York is every bit of the star she portrays in the show, and nails her signature numbers – “Shadow Waltz”, “You’re Getting to be a Habit With Me”, and “I Only Have Eyes for You” with Billy (a boyishly charming Con O’Shea Creal).

Wockenfuss perfectly embodies her character’s wide-eyed enthusiasm and humility, and the change is startling as she transforms from wide-eyed small town kid into a Broadway star. She’s also a masterful tap dancer, so we’re totally sold when she dances her way into the chorus fresh off the bus. York and Wokenfuss are well supported by a standout cast that includes TV icon Sally Struthers as Maggie Jones and Steve Blanchard as Julian Marsh. Unfortunately, the show closes this upcoming weekend, July 13, so if you want to get in on the fun, you’d better get it in gear and take the (short) trip up the Maine. For tickets and info, go to: http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/