“The Drowsy Chaperone”: a musical within a comedy and the show you won’t want to miss
By Nicole Kimzey
You’re comfortably sitting in your seat awaiting the start of the play. The lights dim to black, and as your anticipation grows, you hear a voice coming from the stage say, “I hate theater.” It’s not a common way for a play to start, but that’s how “The Drowsy Chaperone” starts, and this engaging musical is anything but common.
Man in Chair (yes, that is the character’s name) goes on telling us that theater “is so disappointing” and that he “offers up a prayer before every show that it be short, free of actors who roam the audience, and blessed with a story and a few good songs that will take me away.” After he gets that off his chest he becomes eager to tell us about his favorite show from the 1920s: “The Drowsy Chaperone.” He happens to have the original recording of the musical and promptly puts the album on his record player. As it begins, his apartment seems to transform and — voila — “The Drowsy Chaperone” comes to life before our very eyes, and that is why they say “The Drowsy Chaperone” is a musical within a comedy.
Man in Chair continues to navigate us through this show full of delightful music, characters, and an intricate (and improbable) plot of love in crisis — involving gangsters, show people, millionaires, and servants that regularly show up in the production numbers.
Trent Cox plays Man in Chair and freely admits this is one of his dream roles.
“’The Drowsy Chaperone’ came out while I was in high school, and I’ve been in love with the show ever since,” he said. Cox feels a real kinship with Man in Chair since they share many of the same passions. One of those passions is collecting posters, memorabilia, and records from their favorite shows. You will see Man in Chair’s record collection with him on stage, and many of those come directly from Cox’s own personal collection. Another similarity between the two is that they both have a fascination with the Drowsy Chaperone herself.
“Man is obsessed with the actress Beatrice Stockwell, who plays the Drowsy Chaperone, and I love Jennifer Roberts, who plays Beatrice Stockwell playing the Drowsy Chaperone, try and wrap your head around that,” he said. “Jennifer and I are great friends, and I truly love watching her perform in this show.”
The charms of playing Beatrice Stockwell playing the Drowsy Chaperone are not lost on Jennifer Roberts.
“She knows who she is and really revels in it, even when she is causing complete pandemonium,” Roberts said. She also loves the support of each cast member for one another.
“I think this show really defines ‘ensemble cast,’” she said. Even though it is an ensemble show, there are a few stand outs for Roberts.
“If I were sitting in the audience and watching the show, I would be most charmed by the relationship between ‘Underling’ and ‘Mrs. Tottendale,’ played by John Blasko and Carmie Petersen Golightly,” she said. “Despite Mrs. Tottendale’s continued absent-minded coordination of the party, Underling encourages and supports her, like the best of relationships!”
Come for Man in Chair. Come for the Drowsy Chaperone. Come for the relationships, the ensemble feel of the cast, the engaging music — just make sure you come! Don’t miss “The Drowsy Chaperone,” the musical within a comedy that everyone needs to see. The show is only playing for three weeks, so people are encouraged to get their tickets early before it’s gone.
The Drowsy Chaperone runs from April 6 through 21 every Friday, Saturday, and Monday at 7 p.m. with Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. Performances will be at The Hurricane Fine Arts Center, located at 92 S 100 W in Hurricane. For tickets visit hurricanetheatrical.com or call (435) 668-9753.
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