Carter Gulseth
Hello. How are we today? A little quiet? Maybe a little blue? Well it's time for a treat! Why not disappear into the decadent world of the 1920s? A time when the champagne flowed while the caviar chilled, and all the world was a party. This is the world of The Drowsy Chaperone!
First premiering in Toronto's The Rivoli, Drowsy is the latest Key City-bound production for Mount Baker Wild Theatre. The show, which opened on Broadway in 2006, was a fantastic smash, taking away five Tony awards, including those for best book and best score. After last season's Urinetown the Musical, Chaperone is bound to resonate with a little more traditional musical magic; there will sadly, however, be very few jokes regarding Urine. Hail Malthus.
The show will be helmed by Bethany Turcon, who is taking a first run at the Wild Theatre oeuvre. Musical direction will be seen over by Stephanie Tischauer and Evan Bueckert, another newcomer to the Wild family. Returning from last seasons Urinetown is Toronto-based choreographer Siona Jackson. We thank her for making the flight on Air Canada; the woman's a trooper.
Carter Gulseth leads the cast as the Man in Chair. Playing opposite him, as Janet Van de Graaf and Robert Martin, are Emily Bohmer and Dawson Rutledge, respectively. The cast is rounded out by Madison Lee as the titular Chaperone and Andrew Schubert as the almost-sensual Aldolfo.
The show is a tip of the hat to a time when the musical theatre was about a story, a few good songs, and as many spit-takes as one person can handle. It is a rollicking good time, a romp, and an opportunity to kick up your heels.
The Drowsy Chaperone runs at the Key City Theatre from May 7 to May 9 at 7:30 p.m. and May 10 at 2 p.m., and will have you on our feet before the curtain has a chance to hit the stage.