Review: NIGHT AND DAY at Florida Rep is Delightfully De-Lovely!

Florida Repertory Theatre's production of NIGHT AND DAY: LOVE LOST AND FOUND THROUGH THE EYES OF Cole Porter, conceived by Florida Rep's director, Robert Cacioppo, takes many of infamous composer Cole Porter's beloved songs and creates an incredibly beautiful, dramatic story out of them.

Paul Gary, who played The Butler, began the show by removing covers from the furniture with a sly grin, as if he was transporting us to the world of the show--and he was. The Butler was one of the best parts of the show, and I could tell that the rest of the audience agreed. He had everyone laughing many, many times during the production. Gary's ability to convey messages to the audience with just a look was impeccable, and his incredible voice was showcased fantastically in the couple of songs he did sing.

Dan Fenaughty and Larissa Klinger played one of the couples in the show, while Travis Kent and Jennifer Lorae played the other. Though this show was very musically-focused, as it is entirely based on an arrangement of Cole Porter's music, the acting from every single one of these four performers was incredible. It truly felt as if the audience was seeing these couples in love, then following the relationship struggles they faced through the rest of the show. It was like a glimpse into their lives, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I learned that Fenaughty and Klinger are married outside of the show, too, which explains how great their chemistry is (though they were fantastic actors regardless), but Kent and Lorae were just as phenomenal together.

Fenaughty, Klinger, Kent, and Lorae all had beautiful voices; I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed their singing. They were each spectacular on their own, but when they all sang and harmonized together, it was even more incredible. I heard many audience members exclaim right from the beginning of the show that they were all amazing, and they just got even better as the show progressed. Victoria Casella accompanied the actors on the piano, and she was wonderful also.

NIGHT AND DAY was performed in Florida Rep's ArtStage Studio Theatre, which has a unique set-up. Because it is a more intimate theatre, the audience is brought even further into the show. I appreciated how intricately-choreographed the dancing and placement of the actors in each scene was. There wasn't a bad seat in the theatre because the arrangement and choreography was very attentive to how every single audience member would view the show. The actors also all made eye contact with the audience throughout the show, and they sometimes got quite close to the audience as they danced--while managing not to trip on or hit anything, which impressed me to no end. It was flawless. These little details brought the production to life even more.

I was so impressed with how Robert Cacioppo arranged Cole Porter's music into an entire story in the way he did. It was very fun, yet still emotional at some points, easy to follow, and such a creative production overall. This is not your typical music revue at all, and I genuinely hope that this production is brought many other places so people elsewhere can experience it. I didn't even know all the songs of the show simply because the music isn't from my generation, yet I still loved this show; that just proves how well-done this production was.

I absolutely recommend you see NIGHT AND DAY before it leaves Southwest Florida; this show is most definitely going places, and I promise that you do not want to miss the opportunity to say that you saw it premiere at Florida Rep first. Between the fantastic singing, acting, and dancing, the beautiful costumes and set, and the beloved classic music by Cole Porter, I guarantee this show has something for everyone. It was one of Florida Rep's best productions yet, and I hope you all get the chance to see it. I completely understand why it has now been extended through March 25; it's Too Darn Hot.

NIGHT AND DAY is playing in the ArtStage Studio Theatre at Florida Rep now through March 25. Performances are Tuesday-Thursday at 7PM, Friday-Saturday at 8PM, with 2PM matinees on Thursday, Sunday, and selected Saturdays. To buy tickets, you can visit www.floridarep.org, call Florida Rep at 239-332-4488, or stop by the box office at 2268 Bay Street, Fort Myers, FL, 33901.

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