Back in 1957, playwright Ira Levin got the idea for a musical comedy: Girl jewel-thief vs. the world’s greatest detective, or a young rising one. After considering the idea, Levin “immediately saw her leaping around the stage in her black cat-suit, snatching diamonds hither and yon, and him, a most idealistic and ambitious detective, falling madly in love with his criminal quarry.” And Levin, who is known for such indelible titles as Rosemary’s Baby, The Stepford Wives, The Boys from Brazil and Deathtrap (the fifth longest-running play in Broadway history), seemed guaranteed a hit in the musical comedy world.
But that was not the case when Drat! The Cat! opened on Broadway in October 1965, with Lesley Ann Warren looking smashing in her catsuit and Elliot Gould (married to Barbra Streisand at the time) looking dashing while sweating profusely in his uniform. Reviews were mixed, and due to costs exceeding ticket sales, the show folded after eight performances. Thus, a cult classic musical comedy legend was born! Now thanks to director Bruce Kimmel who “promised Ira I would make a production happen,” The Group Rep in NoHo is presenting the West Coast Premiere of Drat! The Cat! with book and lyrics by Ira Levin and music by Milton Schafer, with Gerald Sternbach as music director.
It’s the late 1890s in New York where a clever, stealth cat burglar is lifting diamonds from society’s wealthiest patrons. When the most-respected sleuth is engaged but suddenly dies, the police turn to his good-hearted, inept but earnest son, Bob, an assistant detective, to solve the case. His bumbling attempts to follow in his father’s footsteps lead him to the “Cat,” who, during her first staged heists reveals herself to the audience as the lovely and super intelligent heiress Alice Van Guilder. So, of course, Bob falls head-over-heels in love with her and sets out to reform her ways. But ultimately, thanks to Alice’s ability to manipulate Bob emotionally and intellectually, he decides to follow her!
Starring two fabulous singers who play the comedy in every moment to the hilt are Sydney DeMaria as Alice and Alec Reusch as Bob. Upon meeting, their entertaining trio of songs “Holmes and Watson,” “She Touched Me,” and “Wild and Reckless” set the stage for the crazy antics the two put the good citizens through repeatedly as jewels disappear and tempers flare. And when Bob returns home after being dazzled by Alice, he confesses “She’s Roses” when his mother Kate Purefoy (April Audia) asks about the woman who has stolen his heart.
Alice’s wealthy parents Lucius and Matilda Van Guilder (perfectly matched Lloyd Pedersen and Constance Mellors) cannot fathom why their sweet daughter steals precious jewels from their high society friends and then decides to leave town with Bob, highlighted during their comical, finger-pointing duet “It’s Your Fault.” Their butler is played for scene-stealing laughs whenever possible by Hisato Masuyama, most notably while shaking drinks at their party while masked guests are “Dancing with Alice.” Special thanks to director Kimmel for turning Masuyama loose onstage to garner applause and laughter every time he appears, even as one of the cops!
And what an assemblage of Keystone Cops they are, portrayed by ensemble members (Ben Anderson, Riley Croman, Lareen Faye, Amy Goldring, Angie Lin, Savannah Mortenson, Maxwell Oliver, Nicole Slatin, Melissa Strauss, and Steven Young) who, in various combinations dart about but accomplish nothing other than hilarity as they crash into each other while wildly attempting to locate and arrest the evasive burglar who has turned one of their own into her accomplice. Trying to keep order are Police Superintendent Pincer (Doug Haverty), Chief of Police Mallet (Rob Schaumann), and The Mayor (Lee Grober) who can’t quite seem to communicate clearly with each other, let alone keep the town in line.
Thanks to music director Sternbach, the entire cast harmonizes beautifully with the onstage five-piece band. And director Kimmel works his magic with staging all the ongoing antics like a well-orchestrated ballet, with cast members changing set pieces to keep the action moving swiftly from scene the scene, while Cheryl Baxter’s cute and comical choreography keeps the atmosphere reminiscent of a British music hall vaudeville show.
Tech credits are solid including Audrey Szot (Set Design), Echo Brejcha (Lighting Design), Robbie Myles (Lighting Consultant), Shon Le Blanc (Costume Design), John Harvey (Sound Design), Cathy D. Tomlin (Sound Mixer), Krys Fehervari (Wig Design), Terrie Collins-Grant (Properties Design), with Cynthia Payo as Assistant Director.
Drat! The Cat! runs on The Lonny Chapman Theatre’s Main Stage at 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood 91601, through April 27 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. General Admission: $44. Seniors/Student: $38. Groups 10+: $30. For tickets and information, call (818) 763-5990 or at www.thegrouprep.com.
ArtsUP! LA’s Theatre by the Blind, the only all-blind theatre company in the USA, proudly presents the World Premiere of The Enemy of Oz by Christopher Ureña which reimagines the classic world of The Wizard of Oz, entangling a new generation of characters in an adventure fraught with political ambitions, magical conflicts, and revenge. The production is directed by Greg Shane, Artistic Director of ArtsUP! LA, and features Theatre by the Blind actors Aden Calderon, Olena Calderon, Ronnie Chism, Melanie Hernandez, Julio Hoyos, Leela Kazerouni, Antonique Neely, Maliaka Mitchell, and Myrachele Thomas.
When DD (Myrachele Thomas), a fiery young politician, discovers she’s the secret daughter of Oz’s most beloved hero, she sets out on a mission to topple the corrupt government. But as the daughter of Oz’s most notorious villain, Caliope (Olena Calderon) uncovers her own dark legacy and an age-old blood feud is reawakened, fueling a campaign of vengeance and power between the two for control over Oz. And with Oz on the brink of chaos, old and new generations reunite as political schemes, supernatural forces, and long-buried secrets collide in a battle for the soul of the Emerald City.
Performances take place Friday, May 2 through Saturday, May 17 on Fri/Sat at 8pm, Sun at 3pm, at the Blue Door Theater, 9617 Venice Blvd., Culver City 90232 (on the North side of Venice Blvd., between Cardiff & Watseka Ave.) Parking is available at street meters and in the local neighborhood (carefully read restrictions), or in two Culver City municipal pay lots located at 3846 Cardiff Ave. and 3844 Watseka Ave.
General admission tickets are $15, available online at https://www.artsupla.org or at the box office starting a half hour prior to performances. The play runs for two hours including an intermission, and is appropriate for all ages, with children under the age of 12 requiring an accompanying adult. All patrons regardless of age must have their own ticket.