Review: BULLETS OVER BROADWAY at Starlight Theatre

It's guns, gangsters, flappers, and booze. BULLETS OVER BROADWAY takes the audience back to the 1920's with a rowdy performance that will have you laughing in your seat.

Based off of the 1994 Woody Allen movie of the same name, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY is about hapless playwright David Shayne (played by Michael Williams) who will do anything to get his latest show on Broadway, even if that means taking money from a dangerous mobster and placing his untalented girlfriend Olive (played by Jemma Jane) as one of the lead roles. When everyone wants David to make changes to his show, Olive's intimidating bodyguard, Cheech (played by Jeff Brooks), steps in to offer a little "help."

Going into the show, I had never seen the movie, but I have seen numerous Woody Allen movies, so I was expecting a well-written show with hilarious one-line zingers. I wasn't disappointed. The cast is so great about comedic timing and using their voice and body to enhance the humor. With the help of Susan Stroman's original choreography recreated by Clare Cook, Jemma Jane especially knows how to move her body to get the laughs. Michael Williams' use of high-pitched voices and impressive lung capacity tell even the farthest of rows how scared he is of the mobster world he has found himself in.

The songs and music all fit with the time period offering jazzy, upbeat, and toe-tapping numbers. The showstopper of the night was definitely the mobster's "Tain't Nobody's Bizness if I Do." Jeff Brooks shows off impressive range while still being an intimidating murderer. But then the other mobsters come out and perform a tap routine that Fred Astaire would be proud of, and take the crowd to The Edge of their seats clapping long after the song ends. The Atta-Girls help move scenes along with their numbers, creating a way for a scene on a train with multiple train cars to work on stage in "Good Old New York."

The entire cast was very talented. Nobody's vocals outshined anyone else and their dancing was all in sync. However, it was Jemma Jane's rowdy interpretation of Olive that got the most laughs and cheers. Olive's overly emphasized Jersey accent and frank way of speaking made her easily the most-likable character and the way Jane delivers her lines had people clapping in the middle of scenes. I've never seen an audience clap at a character's death before, but the way Jane overplayed her dying noises, there was no other response, but to clap.

BULLETS OVER BROADWAY is a fun and boisterous show that shouldn't be missed.

BULLETS OVER BROADWAY plays at the Starlight Theatre now through July 3rd. For tickets go to http://www.kcstarlight.com/events/event-detail-production/bullets-over-broadway.

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