The Downtown Cabaret is presenting Dames At Sea, a 1930s spoofy musical with book & lyrics by George Haimsohn & Robin Miller and music by Jim Wise. It is billed as "a salute to a time when dance was all tap, all scenery silver and the only Berkeley we cared about was Busby." Trouble is that this is a second-rate musical; there's not a song among the 16 pleasant ditties that really captivates. The producers have chosen to use only the seven main characters and two swings; instead of a dazzling Busby Berkeley Chorus of dancers, there are times when there is only one tapper, working his or her heart out, trying to fill the very empty stage, a flaw for which director and choreographer Richard Sabellico's creativity cannot compensate.
On the positive side, after a shaky opening (we could not understand the words of the first number), the individual actors acquit themselves with sparkle and energy.
Laurie Gamache is a grandly amusing vamp as Mona Kent, the star of the show within the show, who enjoys exerting her power over every man and woman she meets. In this case, she flirts with a young songwriter, Dick, even though he's promised undying love to Ruby, who hails from his hometown, of Centerville, Utah. Dick is played agreeably by David Spangenthal; Ruby, the ingenue who taps her way into stardom, is given an edgy portrayal, reminiscent of Imogene Coca, by Kirsten Wyatt. Blond Beverly Ward is completely professional as Joan, a member of the cast of Dames At Sea, who is forced to move to a Navy Battleship to put on their show, when the 42nd street theater in which they are rehearsing is torn down by the WPA to make way for a roller rink. Her husband, Kirby Ward, who plays both Hennesey, the Director of the show and the Captain, is equally at home on stage. Josef Reiter is fine as Lucky.
In the show, there are names mentioned from the past like famed gossip columnist Elsa Maxwell, the great actress, Gertrude Lawrence, and the Automat. (Perhaps the program should have included a glossary for those who are unfamiliar with those references.) The best thing about Dames at Sea is the luscious costume design by Jeff Fender, who outdoes himself outfitting the temperamental Mona Kent -- right down to her outrageous wedding dress, a layer cake of lace and ruffles.
