The Nutty Professor – Based on the 1963 movie of the same name. Book & Lyrics by Rupert Holmes; Composed by Marvin Hamlisch; Direction by Marc Bruni; Music Direction by Matt Deitchman; Choreography by JoAnn M Hunter; Scenic Design by Wilson Chin and Riw Rakkulchon; Lighting Design by Cory Pattak; Costume Design by Mara Blumenfeld; Sound Design by Kevin Heard: Wig Design by Roxanne De Luna. Presented at Ogunquit Playhouse,10 Main Street, Ogunquit, ME through August 1st.
By Linda Chin
With its production of The Nutty Professor, the story of a socially awkward chemist who creates a special serum to transform him into a confident crooner, Ogunquit Playhouse demonstrates that it holds the magic formula for a fun-filled, thoroughly entertaining musical evening: Take the original book and lyrics by Rupert Holmes based on the beloved 1963 Jerry Lewis motion picture, add a score by the late Marvin Hamlisch and choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, hire fabulous designers, and combine with a talented cast of five featured principals, 13 ensemble members, and 2 swings. Mix thoroughly, share with an enthusiastic audience, and enjoy.
Chemistry Professor Julius Kelp (Dan De Luca) is an outcast at Korwin College; he wears his love for science on his tattered tweedy suit sleeve and is bullied mercilessly by the students, his mild-mannered personality is steamrolled by arrogant President Dr. Warfield (Jeff McCarthy), and his dislike of sports makes him practically invisible to athletic program donor Harrington Winslow (Mel Johnson Jr.). The female featured performers seem to have the capacity to show a little more compassion, but they are stuck in gender roles of the 1960s, with loyal secretary Miss Lemon (Klea Blackhurst) busy doting on her dolt of a boss and new faculty member Stella Purdy (Elena Ricardo) too preoccupied with not making waves in her new job that her character (and performance) feels restrained. Ricardo does get a chance to shine with “Too Much for Me,” and “While I Still Have the Time,” and her velvety voice is perfect for how one imagines Hamlisch would have wanted his compositions performed.
De Luca rocks his leading role, playing the nerdy scientist and suave nightclub singer Buddy Love, with loads of charisma and a full toolkit of acting, singing and dancing skills. His four solos demonstrate his vocal prowess. His physical and psychological characteristics when playing Julius or Buddy and vice-versa are particularly amazing to watch – you will occasionally glimpse Jerry Lewis’ mannerisms, but De Luca makes the characters his own. In the untimely and unpredictable moments when the potion starts to wear off (e.g. while Buddy is wooing Stella) and the statuesque, smooth-talking Buddy transforms into a slouching, stammering Julius, De Luca is absolutely brilliant. Thankfully Ogunquit Playhouse’s reimagined musical eliminates the nutty professor’s fat suits and womanizing behavior in the Eddie Murphy 1996 version, and changes Buddy Love from the girl-chasing hipster (and makes Stella Purdy a faculty colleague instead of one of the students he pursues) he played in the 1963 Jerry Lewis film. Knowing The Nutty Professor’s history of storylines laden with body shaming, sexual harassment, sexist attitudes, stereotypes, and othering, Ogunquit’s contemporized version is even more of a triumph, and the production number “Step Out of Your Shell” performed by Buddy, Miss Lemon, and the Fantasy Warfields is the show’s anthem. This show is a blast. For tickets and information, go to: http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/the-nutty-professor
