BWW Reviews: JOURNEY OF A BOMBSHELL: THE INA RAY HUTTON STORY Entertains Fringe-Goers

There is usually no shortage of solo shows in DC's annual Capital Fringe Festival and this year is certainly no exception. More often than not, these selections feature performers telling their own story - some interesting, and some not. Less common are those solo shows that introduce audiences to other characters with interesting, but maybe lesser known, stories in a creatively theatrical way. Those that make the trek to the beautiful - but slightly remote - Anacostia Arts Center will experience a bit of the latter. An experience, I must say, that is very much worth the trip thanks to Melissa Ritz's portrayal of Ina Ray Hutton in Journey of a Bombshell: The Ina Ray Hutton Story.

Ina Ray Hutton - born Odessa Cowan - was a chorus dancer-turned-bandleader in the mid-20th century. Her story is an interesting one and not your standard rise to fame/fall from fame we all have heard before. Her rich performing life is fully explored as Ms. Ritz presents it as a flashback, beginning with the last time she takes the stage. Born in Chicago with a love for all things dance, music, and rhythm with dreams of playing the big stage with her mother Marvel, Ms. Cowan attracts the attention of Gus Edwards when she dances in a local revue. An opportunity subsequently presents itself for her to dance in shows in New York City. Odessa leaves all that she knows and - with the help of Gus and subsequent other men in the theatre business - becomes "the blonde bombshell" known to the world as Ina Ray Hutton. With this new, visually pleasing image and the prospects for an enduring career, there's a need to hide who she is, who her parents are, and where she comes from due to racial prejudices at the time. The chance at fame comes with a price, including long-term separation from her mother.

After dancing in the Follies and other shows, Irving Mills approaches the ambitious young woman to perform in his new novelty act, which would catapult her to "name" status. The novelty is that an all-female band would play jazz on their brass instruments - unheard of at the time - and Ina Ray would be the pretty, front focal point, dancing, singing, and "conducting" as they played. Over time, Ms. Hutton has the opportunity to play the country with the Melodears and other bands. She becomes known the country over for her sex appeal. Yet, as a bandleader, she desires nothing more than to achieve the same respect she would if she were a man in the music business. Several attempts to be taken more seriously ensue, but challenges always seem to present themselves. After a long career - and more than a few husbands - she needs to make a decision about what to do.

Ritz cover a lot of ground in her exceedingly well-conceived solo performance (Julie Kline serves as director/developer). Through her portrayal, Ms. Hutton's ambition and numerous inner-conflicts shine through in an organically human way and we're able to see who this enigmatic performer truly was behind the glitz and the glam. Her commendable tapping skills and quite pleasing vocals on a variety of songs performed by Ms. Hutton as a child ("Pretty Liddle Butterfly"), as a young woman/adult make her a believable Ina Ray Hutton. Barry Best's music arrangements and Tony Coppola and Shelby Kaufman's choreography provide her solid material to execute. Ms. Ritz also proves capable of taking on the role of others in the performer's life. Most memorable is Odessa's dance teacher - the one who started it all - and her dear mother.

Although the script could use some trimming in spots - particularly as we explore all of the bands Ms. Hutton played with - and the ending is a bit more abrupt than I might like, the production is well-conceived. The fun music, choreography, and projections (Gil Sperling) immerse us into the subject's world. If I were to have one design-related criticism it would be that the projections would add an even more visually appealing layer if they were even more visible. Many of the images are very light/faded as they appear on Ms. Ritz's multi-functional folding screen.

But these are really just quibbles on my part. I had more fun at this Fringe production than I have at any other in a very long time.

Running Time: Around 75 minutes with no intermission.

JOURNEY OF A BOMBSHELL: THE INA RAY HUTTON STORY has one more performance at the Anacostia Arts Center - 1231 Good Hope Road SE, Washington, DC - on Sunday, July 19 at 5:00 PM. For further ticket and venue information, click here.

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