Curtain Up! Light the lights! They had nothing to hit but the heights in Friday night's performance of "Thoroughly Modern Millie."
Director Bill Jenkins created a "Grande Spectacle" by having gold and brown sets to complement the snazzy 1920s-style costumes and captions above the proscenium during the scenes with Chinese dialogue.
The audience almost went into convulsions any time entrances were made by Beth Turcotte, as Mrs. Meers, and Tim Vetere and Ross Compton, as Meers' Chinese henchmen. Turcotte was "over the top" and simultaneously convincing with her big gesticulations, wicked-witch laugh and spontaneity.
Other kudos should be given to Michael Worcel for having the ensemble perform such clean choreography. They were together, expressive and having fun.
One actress who I enjoyed watching was show-stealer Katie Clark as Miss Flannery. She definitely belongs on "Saturday Night Live." Clark had the comical detail of her character so ingrained in her body it showed even during the tap dance numbers. She was a riot.
Two highlighted performers were Ryan Stutz as Jimmy and Emily Nejad as Muzzy. Stutz and Nejad probably delivered the best vocal performances in the show. Stutz had a Billy Lawlor flavor ("42nd Street") and rich singing voice. Nejad was captivating, inviting and soulful. The audience needed to see more of her.
And, of course, we could not get enough of "Millie." Terra Mackintosh was tough, sincere, natural and incredibly beautiful to look at. The chemistry was evident among her and her partners, Stutz and Kate Bernhardt, as Miss Dorothy - a character that, with golden curls and a soprano voice, reminded me of Glinda from "Wicked".
Humorous highlights of the show included Chris Harrison as the drunken Dorothy Parker and Turcotte trying to retrieve the apple from the lighting fixture.
The show does run long, but it is still an enjoyable watch.
Kwame Stiffler Micah is a graduate journalism major and writes 'Get Stiff' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
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