I walked into this show, expecting like the Faith Prince musical, "A Catered Affair," awhile back. It turned out to be be better than that. The production had the sparkle of a Vincente Minnelli production, the costumes William Ivey Long designed were sumptuous; even Tyne Daly looked good!!!!!!!!!!! The musical numbers were serviceable, and the cast had beautiful singing voices.
So what if it isn't a classic? With so many numbers to zip through, a plot reminiscent of a sketch on "Love, American Style," David Hyde Pierce has the deft touch of a young Minnelli!!!!!!!!!!!!
He has put togeteher a great cast! Tyne Daly and Harriet Harris both playing--guess what????--overbearing mothers! And Chip Zien as a beleaguered husband!!!!!!! Of course, they are perfect! Lisa Howard is touching as Jenny Steinberg, full figured and always in the shadow of her svelte sister, Rebecca, whose wedding the audience is supposed to be attending...or is it???????????
I really cannot tell you more, darlings, to ruin the array of surprises--including Aunt Sheila!!!!!!!--of this marital comedy of errors!!!!!!! Along the way, there is a dollop of substance and humanity that was surprisingly unexpected, amid all the frivolity, and when Lisa Howard does her solo number, "Jenny's Blues," you get to witness the meaning of the phrase "stopping the show."
All of this in just 100 minutes. It moves so fast the audience almost hasn't get time to catch it's breath. Like the ad says, "You'll be home by ten."
But catch this delightful confection. It may not be a classic, but it is a diamond in the rough!!!!!!!!!!!!
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