Review: As Thousands Cheer

For the next two weeks think of Fairview Library Theatre as a time machine. There, you'll be whisked back to 1933 for the Irving Berlin/Moss Hart musical As Thousands Cheer.

Every song and sketch in this revue is inspired by headlines of the day. After a successful Broadway run, the show utterly vanished for 60 years until a small off-Broadway revival was presented in New York to great acclaim.  This brought the property to the attention of Joe Cascone who decided it was time for Canadian audiences to finally see it.

Cascone has worked with his design team to give the show a proper old newspaper look with everyone dressed in shades of grey until the colourful rotogravure-inspired first act finale, Easter Parade.

Other memorable songs include Heat Wave, given a lively interpretation by Ashley Gibson; and the touching Lonely Heart beautifully sung by Caroline Moro-Dalicandro.

One of the sketches gently spoofs Mahatma Gandhi's hunger strikes with Peter Loucas as the celebrated peacemaker. In another John D. Rockefeller's 94^th birthday is covered with Bob Deutsch obviously enjoying playing the penny-pinching billionaire.

Stephanie Douglas offers a remarkably accurate portrayal of Joan Crawford trying to milk publicity from her impending divorce from Douglas Fairbanks Jr. amusingly played by her real-life husband, Larry Gibbs. This and several other sketches may not yield huge belly laughs and some are undone by over length, but they are charming, frequently amusing and provide modern audiences with a look at what people were talking about 75 years ago.

Back then the cast of As Thousands Cheer numbered 50. Here, we have 10 performers who do the work of 50. David Haines shines in a delightful salute to the funny pages; Susan Sanders has offers a humorous impersonation of Amiee Semple McPherson, and Larry Westlake provides several bright cameos including Herbert Hoover.

Finally, Casilda Joseph is given two opportunities to blaze the stage. In the first half she pays tribute to the fabulous Josephine Baker with Harlem on My Mind, while in the second half she offers a heart-breaking Supper Time, the one serious moment in a generally light-hearted show.

The Civic Light opera Company is to be commended for searching out unusual and rarely performed musicals. It's a unique opportunity for Toronto audiences to step back in time and see the world that was.

 

As Thousands Cheer plays at Fairview Library, 35 Fairview Mall drive, until September 22. Performances are Wednesdays at 7 PM, Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8PM with 2 PM matinees on Sunday September 16 and Saturday September 22. Tickets are $20 and $25 and available at www.civiclightoperacompany.com or by calling 416 755-1717.

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