<<  -- 3 --  Kelly Ferjutz    STANDING OVATION?

Andrea Chenoweth as Pitti-Sing and Catrin Davies at Peep-Bo were wonderful maids-in-waiting for Yum-Yum. (Based on one tricky maneuver, I predict diva-dom for Ms Chenoweth, whose gown had a very long train. She displayed a most impressive 'kick' on several occasions, putting her train behind her where it belonged, rather than tangled around her feet.)

Not surprisingly, the musical hit of the production was 'Here's a how-de-do', which highlighted the bright lively voices as well as nimble foot-work of the ensemble. At one point, Yum-Yum was wheeled on stage in a mobile casket, suitable for mourning the fact that she would have to be buried alive if she married Nanki-Poo.

The somewhat spare set design (other than the fans and the shields) by Don McBride was suitably enhanced by the lighting design of Jeremy Benjamin. Kelly Yurko did the wigs and makeup. The marvelous costumes for the principals came from Broadway Costumes Inc in Chicago, while the chorus was outfitted by Magic Makers Costumes Inc of Huntington W Va.

To be sure, books and movies frequently move stories from one time frame to another; perhaps it was seeing it happen in front of your eyes that made this attempt not quite as successful as anticipated. Nevertheless, the full house enjoyed the performance, giving the cast a standing ovation.