Review: Andrea Burns Led BORN YESTERDAY at Maltz Jupiter Theatre

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre kicks off their 2017/18 season with the Garson Kanin's screwball comedy Born Yesterday. The production stars Drama Desk Award winner Andréa Burns as ex-showgirl Billie Dawn, fresh off her recent Broadway performance as Gloria Fajardo in On Your Feet!, the musical based on the life and music of Emilio and Gloria Estefan.

Written by playwright Garson Kanin, Born Yesterday is a 1946 Broadway hit known for popular 1950 and 1993 film adaptations of the same name. The play tells the story of Harry Brock, a hot-tempered and corrupt tycoon who is determined to make a name for himself in the power-driven city of Washington, D.C.. When he realizes his ex-showgirl girlfriend Billie isn't quite cutting it in highbrow society, Harry schemes to transform the blonde bombshell Billie into a cultured and classy woman - with a little help from friends in low places. To everyone's surprise Billie displays a bit more brains and independence than anyone suspected. In a deliriously funny turn of events, Harry discovers that he may have gotten more than he bargained for.

"The role of Billie Dawn requires an actor who can change from the naïve ex-showgirl that appears at the top of the play to a confident, inquisitive and more refined woman at the end. This Pygmalion-like transformation is in the capable hands of Broadway veteran Andréa Burns," said the Theatre's producing director and chief executive Andrew Kato. "Ms. Burns and the actors who play the colorful cast of characters that inhabit her Washington D.C. hotel suite are under the direction of Peter Flynn, who has helmed previous productions at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre including Kiss Me, Kate, Other Desert Cities, Sleuth and the Carbonell Award-winning Man of La Mancha."

Andrea Burns captures all of the energy, humor, quirkiness and charm of Billie. One could ask for just a bit more emphasis on the innocence in her portrayal, as despite the men with whom she has aligned herself, Billie remains naïve and pure of heart. Hence the title of the show - Born Yesterday. She nails all the comic beats, the funny voice, the jiggle in her walk, and the iconic scene in which she unnervingly insists on animatedly singing while playing cards with Harry.

Dominic Comperatore is great as the hoodlum Harry Brock, getting that creating fear is often in the attitude and conviction of the man - not the size. Though hot-tempered he still remains enough in control to believable be a man who has risen to his status.

Peter Galman (Ed Devery) always seems to carry himself with an elegance that serves the once noble, but presently morally wilted nature of his character as Harry's lawyer. Kim Cozort Kay is very funny as the pampered, high-society wife of Senator Hedges, painfully enduring the social crassness of Harry's entourage.

As Paul Verall, Darian Dauchman, has little chemistry with Andrea Burns as Billie. There are times when his character is very ungrounded, and he actually looks a tad uncomfortable on stage. I also hated how poorly his suit fit, and was disappointed in the costuming for the character of Billie. She should have been a time-period fashion plate of the most over the top outfits. Her clothing should have reflected someone who has the looks, the body, the money, but not the taste., and then changed as her character blossomed.

The set for this production is simply stunning! Done in cream and gold, it is a glorious celebration of the American rebirth Empire-styled interior design. Wonderful detail work even includes wallpaper etched with scenes of Washington DC buildings.

Admittedly the script seems a bit outdated at times, and doesn't delve deeply enough into the through-line of the characters. However, this Maltz Jupiter Theatre production of Born Yesterday has some solid acting moments, a few hearty laughs, and is both a wonderful character study and social satire about a woman waking to realize her own power.

Born Yesterday will be appearing at Maltz Jupiter Theatre through November 12, 2017. Maltz Jupiter Theatre is located at 1001 Indiantown Rd. (just off of A1A) in Jupiter, Florida. The not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida's preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state's largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws 100,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 8,000 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida's highest honor for artistic excellence, including the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence. Born Yesterday is sponsored by Suzanne Niedland in loving memory of Art and Meg Niedland. Single tickets start at $58. For tickets and complete information on the theatre's offerings, contact them by phone at 561/ 575-2223, or 800/ 445-1666, 800/ 445-1666 FREE, and online at www.jupitertheatre.org.

Cast:
Billie Dawn: Andrea Burns*

Harry Brock: Dominic Somperatore*

Paul Verrall: Darian Dauchan*

Ed Devery: Peter Galman*

Senator Hedges: Howard Elfman*

Mrs. Hedges: Kim Cozart Kay*

Eddie Brock: Matt Gregorio*

Helen: Sara Oliva*

Assistant Manager/Barber: Jonathan Spivey*

Bellhop/Waiter: David C. Williams

Bellhop/Bootblack: Leandre Thiverge

Manicurist: Frances Weissler

Crew:
Director: Peter Flynn^
Scenic Design: Anne Mundell+
Lighting Design: Corey Pattak+
Sound Design: Marty Mets
Costume Design: Franne Lee+
Wig Design: Gerard Kelly
Stage Manager: James Danford*

*Designates a member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

^Designates a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, an independent national labor union.

+Designates member of the United Scenic Artists, a labor union and professional association of Designers, Artists and Craftspeople

Dominic Comperatore and Andrea Burns / Photo by Alicia /Donelan

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