By Robert W. Bethune
Ever since the Stratford Festival started doing Gilbert and Sullivan decades ago, it's hard to deny that this company does musicals extremely well for an outfit dedicated to Shakespeare. In fact, some say they do musicals better than they do Shakespeare, heresy though that might be.
This production of "My One and Only," a bunch of George and Ira Gershwin songs wrapped around a book by Peter Stone and Timothy Mayer, makes the case. You could hardly ask for a more energetic, engaging and enjoyable fluff ball. It's like a wonderful day at the circus; you go away having been razzled, dazzled and highly entertained to no particular point other than being razzled, dazzled and highly entertained.
There's lots of excellent tap dancing, especially by Mark Cassius as Mr. Magix – wait for him! There's lots of excellent singing and music under Berthold Carriere's baton, certainly including the leads (Cynthia Dale as Edythe Herbert and Laird Mackintosh as Billy Chandler), and an utterly spectacular black-light number – which has almost no connection whatsoever to the story, and you won't care a rip. Plus, everybody's putting out huge amounts of fun with more energy in an evening than James Bay Hydro pumps out in a year.
The design work in all categories, especially the wonderful Mondrian-based sets by Douglas Paraschuk and costumes by David Boechler, is so strong you could thoroughly enjoy the evening even if you wore earplugs. But don't; you'll miss the jokes and the music.
MINI-REVIEW:
'My One and Only'
Stratford Festival of Canada at the Avon Theatre. In repertory, Tues.-Sun., through Oct. 28. Tickets: $60-$125 Canadian. For information: 800-567-1600 or http://www.stratfordfestival.ca
