Theater Review: Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre: Chicago the Musical

Chicago the musical, one of theater's favorites, returns to the stage in Indianapolis at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre.
Deb Wims portrays Roxie Hart, the dreamer willing to do anything (including murder) to reach star status. Wims' energy and sassy attitude push her normally lovely dance and vocal talents to an even higher level. Breaking away from the usual good-girl roles, Wims' vampish-yet-naive approach to Roxie clawing her way to the top is pure gold as shown in "Roxie."

From the moment Curt Dale Clark glides into view, he takes center stage as that charming, albeit conniving, attorney Billy Flynn. There is something deliciously sly and altogether captivating about Clark's version of the superficial and silky smooth lawyer who wins all of his court cases with a smile, bribes and his powers of persuasion with the media. And of course, a little.. make that a lot... of "Razzle Dazzle," one of Clark's best numbers of the night as a duet with Wims.

Showing off his skills of puppetry persuasion with the press, court of law members and clients, Clark, Wims and company bring down the house with  "We Both Reached for the Gun."

Marisa Rivera brings a slightly softer side to the role of double-murderer Velma Kelly showcasing her vocals and dance skills best in "All That Jazz" and end-of show duet with Wims, "Nowadays."

Alene Robertson as Matron "Mama" Morton draws laughs while Eddie Curry draws empathy from the audience as sap-husband Amos Hart.

Sally Scharbrough, as Liz, lights the stage, sizzling in Chicago once again. Last seen in Actor's Theatre of Indiana's version last season, (review here) Scharbrough stands out again in B&B's production.

You either grow weary of Chicago seemingly every season on some stage in the city or you rush to see the latest take on the Bob Fosse-classic satire of the seedy side of the jazz and post-prohibition era in the Windy City. Either way, this Marc Robin directed ~ Buddy Reeder choreographed combo is one you will add to that glad-I-saw list.

Bottom Line: I will keep this succinct: "Chicago...the Musical" is, by far, one of my all-time favorite Beef and Boards' productions in the six + seasons I have reviewed.

Images: JulieCurryPhotography.com

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel columnist, freelance writer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read her new column, Infused, at GottaGo.us and FoodandDrinkDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on Gottago.us, BroadwayWorld.com, in magazines and several Indianapolis area newspapers. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Theater Review: Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre: The Music Man

Some shows are best enjoyed on the silver screen, like Titanic 3D or Armageddon, while others are able to go from stage to screen and back again with the smoothness of a charming con man. The Music Man is just such a show. Opening at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, Indianapolis,  the six-time Tony Award winning musical (book, lyrics and music by Meredith Willson) brings a smooth-talking salesman into an Iowa city in 1912.

River City, to be exact, which brings us immediately to one of the many fun musical numbers, Trouble. The song is performed expertly, and at rapid speed, by Curt Dale Clark (White Christmas, Annie Get Your Gun) as Professor Harold Hill, the consummate con artist and the townspeople. Clark delivers Hill with such complete devilish charm as to give Robert Preston's 1962 film version a run for his money. With devil-may-care good looks and obvious merriment at being such a scoundrel, Clark is pure joy to watch ... while conning the entire town out of their money.

During our interview, Clark describes what makes playing the character of Professor Hill at Beef and Boards, as well as Fulton Theatre, et al, so enjoyable.

"I love playing Harold because he is so well constructed. In the beginning he is really not a nice man, but throughout the course of the play he is changed by his co-star Marion into a much better person and the audience loves to take that journey with him and it makes it very fun!!

Hill's love interest, and town librarian, Marian Paroo is portrayed charmingly by Katie Sina. Pairing nicely with Clark, Sina captivates the audience with her rendition of My White Knight.

Special mention goes to the break-into-song-at-the-drop-of-a-hat quartet consisting of John Vessels, Rex Wolfsley, Kenny Shepard and Damian Norfleet. Watching the group of school board members turn into the singing foursome, "Good Night Ladies," Pavlovian-style upon Hill's command is an absolute riot and must-see.

Bottom Line: Beef and Boards' The Music Man may have trouble in River City, but it brings nothing but fast-paced hilarity to Indianapolis.

Tickets, shows, directions and details can be found by clicking on BeefandBoards.com
Photos: JulieCurryPhotography.com

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, performing arts and restaurant critic, and travel writer. Catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook. Gotta Go is published on BroadwayWorld.com, AroundIndy.com, in M magazine and the following newspapers: Southsider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter. Email her at elizabeth@gottago.us.

Beef and Boards: Annie Get Your Gun

Why would any theater put a show as old as Annie Get Your Gun on its schedule?
Everyone knows musicals won't draw a crowd. Classics aren't trendy. Dinner theater is out of style. Doug Stark, owner of Beef and Boards, 9301 N. Michigan Rd., has heard all the comments and gone his own way. Thank goodness. His loyal customers have followed him for more than 30 years and, judging by the crowd's reaction I witnessed, Stark has one more successful show on his hands.

The faster-than-a-speeding-bullet paced show is about two sharp shooters (an illiterate, unrefined woman and a smooth-talking ladies' man) who fall in love. Premiering on Broadway in 1946 and starring Ethel Merman, it includes the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Irving Berlin. The film version, starring Betty Hutton, hit the big screen in 1950.

Tiana Checchia (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Peter Pan) returns to portray Annie Oakley, the western girl who falls in love with Frank Butler portrayed by Curt Dale Clark (White Christmas, Treasure Island). The two principals are balanced in talent, stage presence and personalities, with the openly spunky nature of pint-sized Checchia complementing the charming and subtly feisty nature of Clark perfectly. You could not ask for a better pair to watch as they meet up, hook up, break up, and make up.

The majority of musical numbers are performed by the two main characters, Butler and Oakley, requiring seriously talented performers with excellent vocal abilities. Clark and Checchia are more than qualified, squaring off more than once in a singing match, exceeding all expectations of their respective roles. Checchia's, at first stubborn then forlorn, versions of You Can't Get a Man with a Gun, and Clark's heart-wrenching My Defenses are Down, open the audience to the true story romance. Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better) brought the tale of two stubborn lovers to a competitive sing off to the absolute delight of the audience.

This cast is solid and strong throughout the performance, showing zero weak links. Three young performers, Brielle Boynton, Molly Oates and Ellie Oates shoot no blanks as Oakley's younger siblings. Stage and film actor Jack Milo (That Thing You Do) slips into a ceremonial headdress for his role as Sitting Bull, Destination Actor Jeff Stockberger (Camelot, The Foreigner) steps into the large boots of Buffalo Bill, and J. R. Stewart (Run for Your Wife) dons the role of Butler's manager via a brightly colored plaid suit. Which brings us to another character. A silent, often ignored by critics, member of the cast.

The stage's set oftentimes makes or breaks the mood of a show and the Michael Layton-created Ringling Bros.' style set for this production brings forth the playful, colorful side of the traveling medicine/circus/Wild West shows of that era. Bright lights, bold paints and spinning wheels make for a dazzling stage providing the strong background required for the rough and tumble, shoot 'em up world of cowboys and Indians.

Bottom Line: Beef and Boards' Annie Get Your Gun hits a bulls-eye.

Website: Beef and Boards
Photo credit: Julie Curry Photography 
Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, music, restaurant and performing arts critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook.

Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

Beef and Boards: White Christmas

Haynes sisters Betty (Christnie Mild) and Judy (Erin West)

Do NOT bother going to see White Christmas, the Musical, playing at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, Indianapolis. Stay far, far away from this show...unless you feel a need to sit through two and one half hours of seriously old-fashioned, feel-good nostalgia, great singing and fantastic dance numbers, that is.

Based on the 1954 movie, starring Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen, this musical, once again, finds B&B breaking the seasonal rule, bringing the holiday a little early.

But, you can't argue with success. With a packed theater for WC's opening weekend, and the sold-out shows of Smoke on the Mountain: A Sanders Family Christmas two summers ago, owner Doug E. Stark (General Waverly) apparently knows the audience doesn't look at the calendar when deciding where to spend their money and evenings.

Timothy Ford and Curt Dale Clark

From the first note, Bob Wallace (Curt Dale Clark) and Phil Davis (Timothy Ford) draw you into the seasonal mood with their warmth and sincerity wrapping around you like a knitted afghan.

Clark portrays Wallace in a thoroughly likable manner, giving the romantically reluctant crooner the necessary laid-back touch. His strong voice blends well with the other singers, including in Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep, with Christine Mild as Betty Haynes.

Mild's Love You Didn't Do Right By Me

Mild, last seen portraying the title role in the B&B hit show, Always, Patsy Cline, claims the audience's attention best with Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me and Sisters, paired with Judy, portrayed charmingly by Erin West.
Standing out most to this critic were the aptly chosen performers for every role, including the supporting cast, most notably, Kenny Shepard, Deb Wims and the ever-animated John Vessels.

John Vessels

Dave Ruark

In case you've been suffering from John-Vessels-withdrawals, not to worry. Fans of Vessels' portrayal of the good Reverend Oglethorpe in the Smoke on the Mountain saga will be delighted to find him in this show, stealing scenes and
 depicting deadpan characters, including Ezekiel, the handyman and Snoring Man.

Keep your eye on Dave Ruark, portraying Sheldrake. I enjoyed Ruark in April at The Cabaret at The Columbia Club supporting the talent of Lauren Cregor. Ruark is one of those entertainers whose talents are only discovered one layer at a time. His creative abilities range from singing to being one of the original performers of ComedySportz. 

Special note: The second act's high-energy dance act places West and Ford all over the stage including on top of a baby grand.

Bottom Line: Beef and Boards' family friendly White Christmas brings a warm cup of holiday cheer to your heart.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer and theater critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and FaceBook.
Photo credit: www.juliecurryphotography.com
Comments can be sent to elizabeth@gottago.us. Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, West Side Community News, New Palestine Reporter, West Indianapolis Community News, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.