BROADWAY SNAP-SHOT
by Russell Bouthiller

Dateline: 12 December 2003

NEVER GONNA DANCE

Earlier this month, an old-fashioned new musical hit the boards of the Broadhurst Theatre. With a book by Jeffrey Hatcher, music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by some of last century's greatest song-scribes, including Oscar Hammerstein III, Dorothy Fields, Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin and P. G. Wodehouse, NEVER GONNA DANCE offers an evening of delightfully familiar tunes and some of the most exhilarating dancing in years.

Wunderkind choreographer Jerry Mitchell--presently represented on Broadway with HAIRSPRAY and GYPSY--and RENT director Michael Greif bring to the stage a liberal adaptation of the classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers RKO musical, "Swing Time." A pair of relative newcomers, the energetic Noah Racey and the lovely Nancy Lemenager, head the bill supported by a cast of talented veterans.

Set during the Great Depression, NEVER GONNA DANCE follows the story of Lucky Garnett (Racey), a smalltime vaudeville dancer who's willing to give up show business to placate his fiancee's wealthy father. Determined to make his fortune the conventional way, he sets out for Manhattan vowing to return after he has earned twenty-five thousand dollars.

Lucky arrives amidst the hustle and bustle of Grand Central Station, where he is caught up in the maelstrom of shoe-shines and newspaper vendors. In this beautifully staged rendition of "I Won't Dance," Lucky catches a glimpse of Penny Carroll (Lemenager) and everything changes in a New York minute. His future and fortune lies with that girl.

Enlisting the help of a hobo named Alfred J. Morganthal (Peter Gerety), a one-time stock broker, Lucky finds Penny giving dance lessons at a nearby studio. Here, we meet some featured characters straight out of RKO casting, such as Mabel Pritt (Karen Ziemba), Penny's sweet and savvy pal, and Mr. Pangborn (Peter Bartlett), her saucy boss. This sets up the delightful "Pick Youself Up" number in which Lucky and Penny have the first of their many wonderful dances.

Wafting through a chiffon plot, Lucky and Penny enter an amateur dance contest that offers just enough prize money for him to go home and get married. They face stiff competition from Spud and Velma (Eugene Fleming and Dierdre Goodwin), a brother and sister act from Uptown. Luck wins, then loses Penny's affections and she sets off to marry Ricardo Romero (David Pittu). But, through the magic of musical comedy, Lucky finally sweeps Penny off her feet in the dazzling "Never Gonna Dance" number and all ends with Hollywood happiness.

Noah Racey has the difficult task of stepping into the dance shoes of a true icon, Fred Astaire. But, he rises to the challenge brilliantly, making each leap and spin look as easy as if the master had slipped him a few notes. Lemenager proves a strong partner, especially in their Act I closing number, "The Way You Look Tonight." Still, the character wants for a bit of the Ginger Rogers bite.

David Pittu's Latin Lover routine is silly on the salsa. Peter Bartlett's swishing Pangborn makes Edward Everett Horton look like Gary Cooper. Eugene Fleming and Dierdre Goodwin steal their scenes as a pair of Harlem hoofers. Peter Gerety is adorable as a remade man and Tony-winner Karen Ziemba shakes it silly in her "Shimmy With Me" number.

Robin Wagner's handsome retro-sets reflect the Deco design styles that ideally suited Fred and Ginger. William Ivey Long's costumes add color and eclat. Greif's direction and Mitchell's choreography effectively captures the happy and hope-filled escapism of those bygone RKO productions. NEVER GONNA DANCE, an old-fashioned show and a true audience pleaser.