On Your Toes

On Your Toes
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8PM
Freud Theatre, UCLA, Los Angeles

This was a fairly good production of a pretty dated musical. The plot centers around a music teacher who used to be a famous vaudville performer. He's trying to promote a new jazz ballet, falls in love with a student and a ballerina, becomes a target for the ballerina's boyfriend, and makes a fool out of himself onstage. The actor in the lead role, Jeffry Denman, is an amazing song-and-dance man. I saw him previously in White Christmas at the Pantages a couple years ago. He's extremely good and would be in demand if it was 50 years ago. He reminds you of Danny Kaye, in fact the resemblance is a little creepy.

The real standout was Yvette Tucker. She was amazing as Vera, the russian ballerina. Reading her bio it turns out that I've seen her previously in Can-Can in Pasadena and in The Merry Widow at the LA Opera. She was a real stand-out in this production, of course her character had all the drama and angst. She really played it up and was extremely believeable.

The student love-interest, who turns out to get the guy in the end, was played by Beth Malone. I've seen her previously in Sister Act at Pasadena. She has a nice voice and has some wonderful moments in this show, but is distractingly skinny. I normally wouldn't comment on a person's appearance, but it actually was distracting, which is what inspires me to comment when directing. Did it bug me???....then say something. Not that she will ever read this, but just a few pounds put on would fill out those costumes a bit more.

Dan Butler, the guy who played Bulldog on Frasier, was fine as the russian director, but this man should not have a solo. He was fine when singing with Stephanie Powers, but on his own it was hard to listen to. It could be written off as opening night jitters. Perhaps he'll relax into it and be more on pitch as the show runs.

Stephanie Powers was very good as the producer behind it all. She was great dancing and singing and acting. A true star. I can imagine that there really just aren't enough roles out there for her. This was a perfect fit.

Jason Alexander is the new artistic director for Reprise! According to his letter at the beginning of the program he has a lot of dreams and ideas to implement for this theatre company. He's probably attempting to make it a bit more like Encores! in New York. This is a transitional year as they decide where to go and how to get there. It could be very exciting.