Review: The Drowsy Chaperone Tour Hits Toronto

The Man in the Chair is back home where he belongs, and Toronto audiences are on cloud nine with the effervescent production of The Drowsy Chaperone that opened its North American tour in the city that gave birth to it.  Bob Martin who won critical acclaim (and a Tony Award for his part in writing the show) is on hand once again play for us his favourite record: the original cast recording of the long forgotten 1928 musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone.

For 90- minutes, with little comic asides from our man, the entire show comes to life in his sad little bachelor apartment decorated with posters and memorabilia from other long-forgotten Broadway shows.

The show was charming and goofy fun when it last played the upstairs Winter Garden theatre back in the summer of 2001. After some rewriting the show opened a pre-Broadway try-out in Los Angeles, followed by a triumphant Broadway opening in May 2006. After winning five Tony awards the musical settled in for a long, profitable run. The run in London was neither so long nor profitable, but undaunted, Martin and company packed up and headed for Toronto where it all began.

The show is now more lavish, faster and funnier than ever but still loaded with heart.

The authors have obvious affection for the inanities of the musical comedies of the 1920s creating an authentic-looking pastiche with a decidedly 21st century perspective.

Mr. Martin supplies that perspective.  This sad lonely man resides in a cramped studio apartment with just his collection of show albums as his only source of happiness.

It's a performance made even more special for Toronto audiences because this is the end of the line for Martin. When the show closes here to head on to Cleveland after October 14th, Martin will relinquish his chair. He's staying in Toronto with his wife and newborn son

Of course Martin has a whole cast of zany characters to help keep him company: Georgia Engle delightfully ditzy as Mrs. Tottendale. Andrea Chamberlain as Janet the bride-to-be gets plenty of opportunities to show off her singing and dancing skills.  Nancy Opel as the Chaperone relishes each acerbic barb almost as much as she enjoys each martini. and twin brothers Peter and Paul Riopelle milk the punny byplay as the comic gangsters.

Casey Nicolaw has re-created the Broadway staging for us complete with the airplane landing in time for the finale. Production values are unusually high for a touring production, with the lighting and sound absolutely spot-on.

They even brought copies of the souvenir Drowsy Chaperone LP so you too can relive the show from your own easy chair. But it's more fun when Bob Martin is there.

The Drowsy Chaperone plays at the Elgin Theatre until Oct 14. Performances are Tuesdays thru Saturdays at 8 with matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. For tickets or more information visit dancaptickets.com or call (416) 872-5555.

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