Feeling blue? Exhausted? Overwhelmed by what’s happening in the world today? In the mood for a fun, light-hearted musical that will take your mind off your troubles?
If so, you need to head over to Revolution Stage Company to check out How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The production will put a smile on your face and a spring in your step, and leave you humming long after the curtain has come down.
The musical, which opened on Broadway in 1961, features music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, with a book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert. The original production starred Robert Morse and Rudy Vallee, and won seven Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
The plot revolves around J. Pierrepont Finch (Nathan Wilson), an ambitious 20-something guy who moves up the career ladder from window washer to chairman of the board of the World Wide Wicket Company. Guiding him along the way is a book titled How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
On his journey to the top, he interacts with company president J.B. Biggley (Scott Kenison), personnel manager Mr. Bratt (Colton Ford) and secretary Rosemary Pilkington (Nicole Kennedy), who develops a crush on him almost instantly. The thorn in Pierrepont’s side as he begins achieving success is Biggley’s self-important loafer of a nephew, Bud Frump (Rob “Rocket” Arnegard), who seems to think that the world is his oyster simply because of his family connections.
Among the other staffers are mailroom head Mr. Twimble (Joe Giamalva); systems department head Mr. Gatch (Eric Seppala); Mr. Biggley’s secretary, Miss Jones (Jenne Carey); fellow secretaries Smitty (Barbara Kerr) and Miss Krumholtz (Daniela Jara Lesaca); advertising department head Benjamin Burton Daniel Ovington (Seppala); and fellow executives Mr. Jenkins (James Owens) and Mr. Tackaberry (Jimmy Ashmore). Towering over them all—literally—is Biggley’s mistress, Hedy LaRue, played to perfection by drag queen Billy L’Amour.
It would be unfair to reveal more details of the plot. Suffice it to say that there are many hilarious twists and turns in Pierrepont’s rise to the top, as he balances a budding romance with Rosemary.
The large cast is excellent across the board. Topping the list is Wilson as the enterprising Pierrepont. With all-American good looks and charm, a great stage presence and a strong singing voice, he keeps the audience rooting for him from the opening scene.
Kennedy’s Rosemary is sweet, lovely and clearly smitten with Pierrepont—but she’s not about to be put on the back burner in this relationship, despite her beau’s ambition. Kennedy exudes just the right amount of spunk for the character.
Kenison is terrific as Mr. Biggley. Occasionally exhibiting some blowhard tendencies, he might be a bit of a softie underneath. Fed up with both his lazy nephew and his high-maintenance wife, he’d rather play golf or hang out with his buxom mistress than work away at the office.
As the insufferable Bud Frump, Arnegard is fabulous. He fully embraces the character’s irritating personality and has the audience praying that he gets his comeuppance at the end.
The character you’ll remember most in this production is Hedy LaRue, played with campy glee by Billy L’Amour.
Other notables include the adorable Giamalva as Mr. Twimble; Carey, who’s spot-on as the efficient Miss Jones; and the always enjoyable Kerr as Smitty. Local journalist Joe Smith does a very nice job as the voice of Pierrepont’s guidebook, and as the TV announcer.
But the character you’ll remember most in this production is Hedy LaRue, played with campy glee by Billy L’Amour. An imposing presence onstage, with gaudy costumes and over-the-top bouffant hair, L’Amour is a hoot. Her duet with Biggley, “Love From a Heart of Gold,” is one of the standout musical numbers.
Director Robert Johanson deserves special mention here. Moving this many actors around a stage smoothly is not always an easy task, and Johanson succeeds beautifully, especially in the big musical numbers like “Brotherhood of Man.” Congrats also to music director Kurt Jordan and to costumer Michelle Mendoza.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying does not have a deep message. It’s just a well-produced, jolly musical romp that will put you in a really good mood—and these days, that’s something we could all use.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying will be performed at various dates and times through Saturday, March 29, at Revolution Stage Company, 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. Tickets start at $29, and the show is two hours, with one 15-minute intermission. For tickets or more information, visit www.revolutionstagecompany.com.
