Not a show I wanted to run towards with open arms, but what a charming and well done production, gee whiz! – with two more weekends still ahead.
“The Andrews Brothers,” onstage at the intimate and plush Norris Theatre, is a revue of 1940s music, ostensibly taking place during a USO tour on some Pacific island army base in 1945. The show features 25 numbers (including “Mairzy Doats” and “Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree”), and I suppose that the older one is the more songs one will remember. Created by Roger Bean, a polished hand at these sorts of things (“The Marvelous Wonderettes” is his baby as well), this snappy and lively musical is laced with comic interludes and a loopy story and, what’s best, four proficient actors: Bets Malone as pop singer and pinup girl Peggy Jones plus David Engel, Larry Raben, and Stan Chandler as the Andrews Brothers. In real life the latter trio may be best known for their involvement in “Forever Plaid.”
You know the premise, don’t you? Well, that’s not quite it. What happens is that these Andrews just happen to have the same last names as those original wonderettes, the Andrews Sisters, who are supposed to fly in and do a show before the boys in uniform are shipped out. What these kids are, besides being unfit for service (flat feet, poor eyesight and, I think, a stutter), are ordinary stagehands. They’re also wannabe singers looking for a break. They practice with Peggy Jones who’s supposed to open for the Andrews Sisters and – where is that plane of theirs anyway?
The set within a set that says modest budget is actually brightly colored and does the trick, showing that you can sometimes do a lot with a little less.
It should be pointed out that Peggy Jones actually falls head over heels for Patrick Andrews, the one with the bad stammer a la “The King’s Speech.” This is the Andrews brother played by Larry Raben, who was recently on stage at the Norris as Felix in “The Odd Couple.” He reminds me of Buster Keaton.
Peggy Jones eventually learns that the three brothers are just stagehands, but she isn’t too upset. However, when the Andrews Sisters’ concert is cancelled – LaVerne is quarantined somewhere – there’s that real downer feeling that everything is in the toilet. The Andrews Brothers will never get their big chance now!
This only lasts for a song or two.
The second half of the show, which already bears a passing trace to “South Pacific” (just a passing trace), now begins to resemble “Some Like It Hot” meets Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. In short, the Andrews Brothers dress up as the Andrews Sisters and Peggy Jones dresses up as a sailor – and so their show becomes our show. There’s a real cascade of physical comedy and slapstick, although they do come close to overdoing it, too. How many times can you watch a guy in drag do very un-lady-like poses and still find it hilarious? On the other hand, they can tap dance pretty darn well in those heels.
Funny is one thing, but this show is brilliantly performed by four very cool actors, nicely directed by Nick DeGruccio, and with choreography by Roger Castellano. Both acts are preceded by period film clips that take us back – even those of us who were never there to begin with. Give this one a shot – it’s worth it.
The Andrews Brothers plays on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., plus Sunday at 2 pm., this weekend and next, in the Norris Theatre, 27570 Crossfield Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Tickets, $42. Closes May 15. Call (310) 544-0403 or go to norriscenter.com. ER
