A musical about musicals

The cast of the Sunset Playhouse's "The Drowsy Chaperone." Sunset Playhouse photo.

The self-referencing humor of the Sunset Playhouse’s The Drowsy Chaperone can be summed up thus: The lead character, Man In Chair (Ben George), starts the play by declaring to the audience in detail just how much he hates it when characters in plays break the fourth wall. He then proceeds to hold an extended conversation with the audience and continues to address his thoughts to us throughout the play.

Cline, Ben George and Richard Katschke. Sunset Playhouse photo.

This musical comedy’s apparent mission in life is to gently parody every single cliché of musical theater. It does this with the following complicated setup, devised by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison (music and lyrics) and Bob Martin and Don McKellar (book). The Man in the Chair (Ben Guest) plays a record. The recording somehow conjures up a live play in his living room. He can interact with it, sing along, and comment. The play within the play is also called The Drowsy Chaperone, and it serves as an over-the-top parody of Broadway musicals.

It’s hard to judge acting in this musical within a musical; apart from the Man in the Chair, everyone purposely overacts beyond reason. Bridegroom Robert (Ryan Cappleman) drew quite a few laughs with well-acted snobbishness and a killer tap-dance routine, which also featured best man George (a very capable Andy McCain). Bride-to-be Janet Van De Graff (Ellen Jenders) did it all in a hilarious marathon scene in which she’s a singer, acrobat, musician and stunt performer. The long-suffering Underling (Kyle Sternad) was perfectly droll.

Kelly Cline and Ellen Jender, amid "Drowsy Chaperone" hijinks. Sunset Playhouse photo.

Still, there is over-the-top and over the top of the top, as director Tommy Lueck sorted it out. The partnership of minor characters Feldzieg (Richard Katschke) and Kitty (Kelly Cline) struck me as overly shrill. Ben George seemed to take a while before he really settled into the Man in the Chair. About that character: The Drowsy Chaperone is funny, but it’s also disappointing in a way; the Man in the Chair slips in a few facts about himself, but the show sort of teases the viewer with his back story and then leaves it mostly unexplored. However, the stylized musical numbers and clever use of the format—the Man in the Chair frequently pauses or fast-forwards the play to expound upon a point —more than compensate for these flaws.

The Drowsy Chaperone is about theater, and its laughs come from its parodies of musical theater standbys and the interwoven commentary from the Man in the Chair.  The intricately layered show garners laughs on multiple levels. For serious fans of musical theater, this show is a must.

The Drowsy Chaperone, seen at the July 14 preview, runs at the Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove July 14-17, 21-24, 28-31 and August 3-7. Visit the company’s website for details and to order tickets, or call the box office, 262-782-4430.