Review: GCT Mounts Energy-Driven HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING

Does Abe Burrows' now classic show How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying still hold up theme-wise? Well, nepotism will always rear its ugly head and those that climb the corporate ladder will continue ruthlessly to step on those beneath them and on those by their sides as well. So, the answer is partly yes! Judging by Friday's young audience at GCT, who were laughing quite heartily, ... Business is curiously entertaining, even though it belongs to the 60s. More about this later. Directors Danny Michaels and Orlando Alexander have pulled out all the stops to make the production work, and every character actor - just about the entire ensemble - are 'spot on' well cast. Once again GCT does not disappoint.

Kent Cain as J. (Ponti) Pierrepont Finch is an uber energetic actor and singer. Robert Morse, who created Ponti on stage and celluloid, was great, but no comparisons are necessary as Cain propels the show and makes Ponti his very own creation. Lovable as well is Kelly Marie Hennessey as Rosemary. She really nails Rosemary's unbelievable loyalty to the max and sings beautifully. In fact, every character becomes totally memorable here due to fine casting: Lia Peros as Smitty, Cynthia Caldwell as Miss Jones, Richard Malmos as J.B. Biggley, Danielle Lebens stealing the spotlight as bombshell Hedy LaRue and also Alex Allen as Bud Frump, the overly obnoxious nephew of J.B. who will stop at nothing to get attention. Let's not leave out Kyle Kelley, a staple on the GCT stage as dependable Wally Womper ... and everyone else, who dance and move up a storm under Michael's and Alexander's dynamite staging and swift dance moves. The World Wide Wicket Company is what it is due to their team leadership. Heaven help us, they just don't make happy endings like this anymore!

Speaking of happy endings and old-fashioned musicals, the one thing I noticed this time about ... Business - getting back to my initial question - is that a lot of content is dated. As we are overwhelmed by today's advanced technology, How To books have become a thing of the past, and we can almost dismiss Frump's TV treasure hunt as obsolete and unexciting ... but the show is set in the early 60s, so, if we adjust our time frame, we can still enjoy, especially with the terrific Frank Loesser tunes.

Although this is hardly Loesser's best score, I still love "The Company Way", "I Believe In You" and "Brotherhood of Man". I could not help to compare "Brotherhood of Man" to "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat" the ensemble tune at the mission in Guys and Dolls, another rollicking Burrows/Loesser collaboration with cartoonish characters and incredible reversals of fortune. Satire is goofy and things change quickly as if by magic. And ... this kind of broad humor still appeals to the audience at large - look at the silliness and shtick of the overly popular Spamalot! In addition, the broad rendering of "Rosemary" at the end of Act One of ...Business is so over.the.top and exaggerated that you can't help but laugh, particularly at the childlike leaps of joy from both Ponti and Rosemary.

I just want to stress again how well Michaels and Alexander have staged this piece. Not one corner of the three-quarter space is unused, above or below. Something is happening everywhere and Alexander's loving touch to the lively choreography makes the show tick.

This was adult fare in the 60s. By today's standards, the kiddies have seen and heard it all, but I'd still leave the littlest ones at home. Then, go and have a ball!