The Drowsy Chaperone

Dear Lord in Heaven- please let this it be good.

These were the first words we heard from the narrator as we sat in the dark of the 5th Avenue Theater. The lights went down but instead of the first stirring musical strains of the overture, there was silence. And then more silence. And then the sarcastic wit of the narrator began.

The premise of the Drowsy Chaperone is so crazy that it is brilliant. We are watching a contemporary Broadway fan that is feeling blue (and there is a whole monologue on what that feeling is) as he sits in his apartment and puts on his favorite record from the 1920s.

What I loved the most is how he pauses the record to tell us about the actors (who died and their face was eaten by the poodles) and their star status (she started as the "Opps Girl") and the relationships between them. One of my favorite moments was when the narrator tells us that the lyrics to the next song are awful, don't even listen to them! But the music is wonderful. And then he is up and dancing along.

This was another show without an intermission, but the "fake" intermission was so funny becuase the second record was from a different show! So suddenly we're watching something else entirely! Rosa the cleaning lady is told not to touch the records, but she just doesn't listen. The narrator does not like intermissions, he feels that they ruin the magic as you are forced back in to reality for 20 minuets. Darn the need for potty breaks.

The other great gag is when the phone rings and the narrator gets annoyed beacuse, yet again, his magic is being ruined! And don't you just hate it when people get calls at the theater?

This was a wonderful show, and for the first time I am sorely tempted to go back and see something for a second time. If you are a fan of MST3000 (and if you don't know what that is I'm not going to tell you) this show is for you. If you like scarcsam, this show is for you! If you loved the costumes in Mame, this show is for you (the same person did them and they are fabulous)!

Now go get your ipod and download the soundtrack!