BWW Reviews: FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE At Arena Stage - Just Relax and Enjoy!

What a time it is for musical theater lovers. In DC you have DINER at the Signature, LITTLE DANCER and JOSEPH coming to the Kennedy Center, PIPPIN soon at the National, MARY POPPINS at Toby's Dinner Theater, LITTLE MERMAID at Olney Theatre Center, and NEWSIES at Baltimore's Hippodrome.

At the Arena Stage, they have a double-header of musicals...the great production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in the Fichandler Theater and the just opened FIVE GOES NAMED MOE in the traditional space in the Kreeger Theater. If you want to see both shows in one day, see the longer FIDDLER for the matinee and the shorter two hour musical MOE in the evening. It will be a day to remember.

I was so thrilled to see that Artistic Director Molly Smith chose to present FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE which I thoroughly enjoyed back on Broadway in 1992 where it was nominated for the Tony for Best Musical. In that production, I remember the great Jerry Dixon in the cast who is now on Broadway in IF/THEN. I'll always remember also the great Doug Eskew in the Broadway production who performed with E. Faye Butler at Arena Stage in AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' in 2003 and more recently was in the Center Stage production of DANCE OF THE HOLY GHOSTS in October 2013. I thought for sure Eskew would have been in the cast for this version of FIVE GUYS but to no avail. But Director Robert O'Hara has a different take and a younger cast in mind in this incarnation.

FIVE GUYS (I wonder if the hamburger chain got its name from this show) is a musical review of songs by the great bandleader Louis Jordan who is known for his music which brings back the songs from the '30's, '40s, and '50s. You may want to listen to the music before the show because they are infectious. At the height of his career, he had 18 number one hit records. One of them is the hit "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying." (Remember the British group Gerry and the Pacemakers?)

What Director Robert O'Hara does is update these great songs and modernize them with a hip six piece orchestra under the baton of Music Director Darryl G. Ivey (the assistant musical director for the Broadway production) located in the rear of the stage under the big sign They all should be recognized: Ivey on keyboards, Jacob Bremkamp also on keyboards, David Marsh on electric bass, Mark Carson on drums, Brent Madsen on trumpet, and Elijah Jamal Balbed on sax. They all got a deserved ovation after the show.

But the key to the show is incredible cast he has brought together. The show opens with the wonderful local talented actor Kevin McAllister (Nomax) all alone on stage and more than a little inebriated singing the haunting ballad "Early in the Morning". This is his Arena Stage debut and I'm sure he'll be back. He was great in VIOLET and PARADE at Ford's Theatre, and Signature's World Premiere of BROTHER RUSSIA. He finds a vintage radio (very similar to my dad's), turns it on, the curtain rises and here comes the rest of the cast and a huge "M-O-E" in block letters with staircases on each side (Set Design by Clint Ramos).

Another local talent is Jobari Parker-Namdar as "No Moe". I remember his performance at Metro Stage in THE STEPHEN SCHWARTZ PROJECT. Clinton Roane ("Little Moe") has a great pedigree. He was in the original Broadway Cast of THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS. Three actors making their Arena Stage debut are Travis Pochia (Four Eyed Moe), quite the tap dancer, Sheldon Henry (Big Moe) who has a booming voice and also serves as Dance Captain, and Paris Nix (Eat Moe).

The Louis Jordan canon of songs is used to demonstrate to Nomax how to win favor with his girlfriend.

They are all entertaining..."I Like 'Em Fat Like That", "Messy Bessy", "Safe, Sane, and Single", and the infectious "Caldonia" (with audience participation). Act I finishes with "Push Ka Pi Shi Pie" and includes women plucked from the audience to join the actors on stage in a dance. In the Broadway performance, the audience was invited on stage for a conga line. I missed that.

All the actors shine in the great dance routines (nice choreography by Byrone Easley). There are the classic costumes by Dede Ayite, clever lighting by Alex Jainchill, and great sound thanks to Lindsay Jones.

It's too bad there are not tables for drinks like Broadway's Studio 54 has because the show is truly a cabaret-style performance.

This is a show where you just sit back and relax and enjoy the performers and the great music. (In fact, I just ordered the CD from the Broadway cast which I wish Arena Stage would sell in their gift shop.)

FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE continues until December 28. For tickets call 202-488-3300 or visit www.arenastage.org. You too will be hooked!

THIS AND THAT

Don't forget that PETER PAN LIVE! happens this Thursday night, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. on NBC. Can't wait to see Christopher Walken as Captain Hook and his dancing. Remember his dance in HAIRSPRAY?

Just got notice of "Backstage wth Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years" which will air on ABC, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. It will highlight many of its musicals including BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE LION KING, AIDA, TARZAN, THE LITTLE MERMAID, MARY POPPINS, NEWSIES, and ALADDIN.

There will be performances by Sir Elton John, Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen (ABC'S "Nashville"), Ashley Brown (MARY POPPINS), and Adam Jacobs (ALADDIN).

You will be backstage during an actual performance of ALADDIN doing the production number "Friend Like Me", see a rehearsal from THE LION KING, and witness the cast of the tour of NEWSIES (now playing at the Hippodrome).

Hosting the show is Jesse Tyler Ferfuson of "Modern Family".

Coming to Baltimore's Hippodrome Theater is Idina Menzel on Wednesday night, July 8, 2015. Get tickets now!

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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