Review: BULLETS OVER BROADWAY Goes Great Guns at The Memphis Orpheum

The lights come up, jazz age gangsters rush the stage and fire at the backdrop with their machine guns, and the words BULLETS OVER BROADWAY appear in lights--a perfect intro for a madcap caper. Let the fun begin!

This high energy stage musical is an adaptation of Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath's 1994 film by the same title. It's a fast-paced farce about a hapless young playwright whose first Broadway production is financed by the mob. With Susan Stroman's expertise, the show was set to music and opened on Broadway in 2014, at the St. James Theatre, where it remained for one hundred performances. This touring production opened at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio in October of 2015.
The production's music consists of jazz and popular standards from the years between World War I and about 1930, with additional lyrics written by Glen Kelly. Jukebox musicals are hard to pull off, and this show is no exception. Great as most of those tunes are on their own, they often feel a little "bang to fit" when it comes to the story. Nevertheless, the costumes, (William Ivey Long) choreography (Clare Cook ) and virtuoso cast make each number a delight in any context.

Director Jeff Whiting has his actors playing melodrama broad, so it takes a while to acclimate to their performances. Between that and the writing, it's hard to emotionally invest, but it's a perfect night of easy, lighter-than-air entertainment.

This tour deserves kudos for excellent casting. Each and every performer brought as much dimension as possible to their rather flatly-written roles. Hard as it was to care about the characters, it was easy to care about the performers because they were obviously giving their all.

To my surprise the actor who brought down the house at curtain call was a fill-in. Justin Jutras, usually an ensemble member, had stepped in role of Cheech, the henchman tasked with keeping an eye on his boss's moll. His performance was a standout, in part, because it felt more organic than the others. He played smaller, inhabited the role, and sang his songs with an authenticity that made his admittedly amoral character sympathetic.

At the opposite end of the stylistic spectrum was the bodacious, but dim-witted Olive, played brilliantly by Jemma Jane. Her performance was a borderline cartoon rendition of a tacky, untalented Broadway wannabee whose mob boss boyfriend had promised to make her a star.

Caught in the crossfire is the leading man, playwright, David Shayne, played by Michael Williams. At the mercy of the mob, the muse, the problematic actors in his new play, and his callow passions, his character is reactive. Williams is charismatic and skilled in physical comedy. His reactions are supercharged. He brings that same level of contagious vitality to his songs. and is the perfect foil for the beautiful, but fading legend, Helen Sinclair, played by Emma Stratton, who is fascinating because she seems, in every little way, like she has been beamed in from an early 1930's movie via time machine.

Sinclair's polar opposite was the eccentric, stage actress Eden, played by Rachel Bahler, whose devotion to her scruffy little dog is a running gag.

Another character with a great running gag is food obsessed actor Warner Purcell played by Bradley Allan Zarr who grows girthier with every entrance.

Other notable characters were David Shayne's longsuffering girlfriend, Ellen, played by Hannah Rose Deflumieri, Julian Marx, played by Rick Grossman and Nick Valenti, played by Michael Corvino whose operatic voice is beautiful beyond words.

The skilled swings and inspired ensemble in this troupe are a magical mix of cohesion and individuality. They danced and sang their hearts out and deserve individual mention: Kelly Peterson,Corinne Munsch, Mary Callahan,Jake Corcoran,Elizabeth Dugas,Patrick Graver, Carissa Fiorillo,Brian Thomas Martin,Conor Mcgiffin,Kaylee Olson,Joey Ortolani,Lexie Plath,Ian Saunders, Blaire Baker , Andrew Hendrick, Ryan Kanfer, and Lainee Hunter.

This light, bright musical is great fun, but it'll only be around through Sunday May 22nd. Run down to the Orpheum, and catch it these terrific performers before they're off to Oklahoma City!

All Photos by: Matthew Murphy

For more information, visit the Orpheum website: www.orpheum-memphis.com, or call (901.525.3000)
Tickets are also available at The Booksellers at Laurelwood, and through Ticketmaster.

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