KMPH FOX 26 | Central San Joaquin Valley News SourceDean Reviews "Drowsy Chaperone"

Our performing arts correspondent Dean Rhodus joined us on Great Day Wednesday morning with his review of the Good Company Players production of "Drowsy Chaperone."

The production runs through September 11th at Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater.

For ticket information, call (800) 371-4747 or click here.

Drowsy Chaperone a Wake Up Call

It has been a very long time since I have spent such an engrossing time in the theater. "Drowsy Chaperone" is fantastic from start to finish. The concept of the show, which blurs time and reality, is brilliant. The humor is so clever that one is satisfied from every perspective of what can be called funny; wit, physical, surprise, innuendo, subtle and broad. It is subtle slap stick. It's broad and witty. The author and composer are brilliant.

The casting for this show, always a difficulty in community theater (in that casts are drawn from non-professionals) is as though director Fred Bologna had the world of professionals on speed dial. From top to bottom, start to finish, there are wonderful moments handled by a cast displaying skills that give us a show so even, and moving so well from scene to scene, that it really did have the look of the "Big Time." Really!

Steve Souza performs "Man in Chair" as though the role was written for him. Talk about owning a role. He ran the gamut from cuddly to caustic, innocent to informed. Dan Pessano's deadpan is controlled hilarity. Laurie Pessano's clueless Tottendale is sweet, ageless and sexy. Their work together is a lesson. Their timing, singing, dancing and unspoken conversing is riveting.

Brian Pucheu is exactly right in size and suave as Aldolpho, the "Latin love interest." He sings impressively. Chelsea Harper's Kitty was ideally empty. Her mind reading scene with Mr. Feldzieg made me laugh out loud. Teddy Maldonado's harried Broadway producer was right out of "42^nd Street". We felt his pain and enjoyed his impossible predicament.

Emily Pessano is everything one would want as the young ingénue. She sings! She dances! She acts! She is the proverbial triple threat. And she can handle humor. A well rounded performance.

There remains to speak of the title role. Sarah Schweppe gave the role a look of 1940's Hollywood. She is ab-so-lute-ly ideal. Her Eve Arden droll and mugging were captivating. The role could have been too broad but was instead powerful by its restraint.

David Pierce's set was cozy and fluid. Ginger Kaye Lewis's costumes were flawless. But there was a shocking lack of satin. I could see Kaye Migaki's as-always-skillful-hand in the choreography. Becky Sarkisian's caring touch was heard in soloist and ensemble.  

Thank you all for a very absorbing evening. It was indeed positively worth it. And Fresno? Be warned. Great theater can cause excitement.