42nd Street zippy Goodspeed production

EAST HADDAM — Put on your dancing shoes because “42nd Street” is hitting the boards at the Goodspeed Opera House.
This zippy production of the award winning 1980 musical has everything a musical devote could ask for — dancing, singing, and more dancing.
It’s difficult to believe this musical of musicals was produced as late as 1980. It feels more like the good old-fashioned musicals from the turn of the 1900s.
The plot is a bit hokey, but the cast has a blast with what they have to work with. Set in the time period just after the stock market crash of 1929, this show couldn’t be more timely too.
It’s a perennial fairytale of overnight success based on sheer talent and heart. A group of dancers are auditioning for a new show when a newcomer, Peggy Sawyer, played with wide-eyed optimism by Kristen Martin, is befriended by the sweet and welcoming chorus girls.
None of the gals has a professionally jealous bone in their super-fit bodies, and they welcome the fledgling hoofer from Allentown, Penn. with open arms. You know, just like in real life.
The star of the show within the show is Dorothy Brock, played with plenty of moxy by the sultry Laurie Wells. Brock can sing, but can’t dance her way out of a paper bag. She is accidentally tripped up by Sawyer, breaking her ankle.
The hard-nosed producer with a heart of gold, Julian Marsh, played with confidence by James Lloyd Reynolds, begs Sawyer to step into the lead role.
It’s always spectacular to see how the Goodspeed choreographers and directors, here Rick Conant and Ray Roderick, manage to squeeze so much dancing and action onto the tiny stage.
The costume changes are too numerous and fast to count, with candy colored rainbow delights of festive period getups — Costumes by David H. Lawrence.
Less successful is the Hollywood Squares-like dressing room ensemble number that seems a little cheesy, and would have been migraine producing if it continued much longer. The Shadow Waltz, with dancing behind a screen in silhouette is an imaginative idea, but is not so effective in delivery.
Notable is the incorrigible tenor, Billy Lawlor, played by the dashing and flirtatious Austin Miller, and the sultry femme fatal, Lorraine Fleming, played by Erin West. Fine comic relief to the comedy is provided by Dorothy Stanley and Dale Hensley as the show’s songwriting team, Maggie Jones and Bert Berry.
There are some classic musical numbers in the show, including “Lullaby of Broadway,” “We’re in the Money,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo,” and of course, “42nd Street.”
Few sights are more stirring and spectacular than experiencing a talented chorus line tapping their hearts out. Come enjoy the ballyhoo at the Goodspeed Opera House through June 28.

42ND STREET

Three Stars
Location: Goodspeed Opera House, Route 82, East Haddam
Production: Music by Harry Warren. Lyrics by Al Dubin. Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble. Directed by Ray Roderick. Choreographed by Rick Conant. Produced by Michael P. Price. Scene design by Howard Jones. Costume design by David H. Lawrence. Lighting design by Charlie Morrison.
Running time: 2 hours, with one 15-minute intermission.
Show Times: Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., and select Thursdays at 2 p.m.; Friday, and Saturday at 8 p.m. with Saturday matinee at 3 p.m., and Sunday matinee at 2 p.m., with select Sunday evening performance at 6:30 p.m. through June 28.
Tickets: $27.50 — $69.50. Call the box office at 860-873-8668 or visit their website at www.goodspeed.org
ACTOR…CHARACTER
James Lloyd Reynolds … Julian Marsh
Kristen Martin … Peggy Sawyer
Austin Miller … Billy Lawlor
Laurie Wells … Dorothy Brock
Dorothy Stanley … Maggie Jones
Dale Hensley … Bert Berry
Erick Devine … Abner Dillon
Erin West … Lorraine Fleming
Tim Falter … Andy Lee
Elise Kinnon … Phyllis Dale
Jenifer Foote … Ann Reilly