Thoroughly Modern Millie
” was taken from the wacky 1967 Oscar winning movie starring
Julie Andrews, and was reworked and juggled around into a sparkling
musical that entertains but comes across as frothy with the depth
and sweetness of cotton candy. Millie is saved for the most part by
a talented energetic cast, great ch
oreography and some help from Tchaikovsky, Victor Herbert and
Gilbert and Sullivan.
Thoroughly Modern Millie” was taken from the wacky 1967 Oscar winning movie starring Julie Andrews, and was reworked and juggled around into a sparkling musical that entertains but comes across as frothy with the depth and sweetness of cotton candy. Millie is saved for the most part by a talented energetic cast, great choreography and some help from Tchaikovsky, Victor Herbert and Gilbert and Sullivan.
“Millie” walked off with six Tony Awards in 2002 including Best Musical. It is still playing on Broadway. For the first time AMTSJ invested in this show when it showcased in 1997 and notably because of this, this is the first time a hit musical will play San Jose before San Francisco. A feather in AMTSJ’s cap that they hope to repeat in the coming seasons.
Darcie Roberts as Millie the gangly hick newly arrived from Kansas who decides to shuck her small town image and immerse herself in the flashy Manhattan 20’s by bobbing her hair, raising her skirts and marrying her boss, has the voice and comedic flair and is most enjoyable to watch but falls just a smidgen short of that push that shoves the character over the top.
The show stealers are Daniel May as Ching Ho and Darren Lee as Bun Foo who play laundry workers who belt out old standards in Chinese with overhead translating supertitles. Miss Dorothy (Diana Kaarina) and Trevor Graydon (Sean Allan Krill are a complete hoot with Victor Herbert’s “I’m Falling In Love With Someone” number. Both are fine-tuned performers and deliver one of the best moments in the production.
Mrs. Meers (Hollis Resnik) the nefarious, con artist, pseudo dragon lady proprietor of the Priscilla Hotel takes the most juicy comedy role in the show and mugs her way through it with great effort.
Muzzy Van Hossmere (Pamala Isaacs) the grade dame mentor for Millie, wasn’t given enough to do with the talent that she obviously has available.
Director Michael Mayer keeps his actors moving at a fast pace. David Gallo’s sets with Martin Pakledinaz’s costumes give the production a classy roaring 20’s look and Rob Ashford’s choreography and dancers show some of the brightest spots in this extravaganza that sometimes tries too hard.
After all is said and done perhaps “Thoroughly Modern Millie” is just what we need at this time, something fluffy, fun and a reminder that silly innocence and a good laugh can be good for us, especially now.
Camille Bounds is the Theater and Arts Editor for Sunrise Publications
