Review: Don't Speak! Just Go See BULLETS OVER BROADWAY at the Paramount

Let me start by saying that I've never seen the original movie of "Bullets Over Broadway" all the way through. I'm just not a Woody Allen fan. So a musical interpretation of it didn't exactly thrill me. So what about the current production turned me around? Was it the story? It's cute but nothing life changing. Was it the music? All the songs are minor adaptations of old standards from the 1920's and 30's so not really. No, it was the cast currently playing at the Paramount that took this fun show and amped it up to zany hilarity and made it an absolute delight.

Based on the 1994 film we meet David Shayne (Michael Williams), a young playwright desperate to get his latest play produced. So when his producer Julian Marx (Rick Grossman) calls with the news that they have the money, David is thrilled. But the money is coming from mobster Nick Valenti (Michael Corvino) who insists that his less than talented girlfriend Olive (Jemma Jane) be given a part in the play. But not all is lost as David has some real actors with her. The dog obsessed and chipper Eden (Rachel Bahler), the constantly eating Warner (Bradley Allen Zarr) and most importantly the famous diva Helen Sinclair (Emma Stratton). But when the play just isn't working he gets writing advice from an unlikely source, Olive's bodyguard Cheech (Jeff Brooks) and David finds that it's not so hard to compromise your art for the sake of a hit.

It's a hilarious toe-tapper of a show with spectacularly lavish dance numbers, which should come as no big shocker as it was originally directed and choreographed on Broadway by Susan Stroman (Tap dancing gangsters? Yes, please!). And with a costume design by the incomparable William Ivey Long, the tone and the glitz of the era is in full swing (those fur showgirl outfits are to die for!).

But as I said it's this cast that makes it. All of them have killer pipes, of course. But there are some incredible standouts in the comedy department that make this an insanely good time. Williams has the comedy timing and physicality of 10 performers as he spit takes, pratfalls and double takes his way through the piece without ever taking it too far. Stratton has a beautiful build to her character from Diva to shameless manipulator that takes her character beyond just one-note. Zarr could not be funnier as he continues to seduce while still eating everything in sight. And Brooks makes for the perfect gangster but with a brain beneath all those bullets.

But it's Jane who walks off with the show, as every solitary moment with this outrageous dumb blonde is pure gold. From her deliciously lousy acting to her squeaky Judy Holiday-esque voice she grabs ahold of every scene with gusto. And I have to say her "Hot Dog Song" alone was worth the price of admission.

The show manages one delectably fun moment to the next and makes for a wonderful evening, which is why with my three letter rating system I give it a boisterous YAY. The only reason to miss this one is if you're in the river sleeping with the fishes.

"Bullets Over Broadway" performs at the Paramount Theatre through February 7th. For tickets or information visit Seattle Theatre Group online at www.stgpresents.org.

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