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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 19, 2002
The love affair of legendary silent movie director Mack Sennett and his favorite star, Mabel Normand, ended in tragedy, but the version of songwriter Jerry Herman and writer Michael Stewart's musical Mack and Mabel playing at Richey Suncoast Theatre through Feb. 3 cuts off before the downfall, and stresses the light-hearted and fun-filled aspects of that romance and that era in Hollywood.
As done by director Dick Poole, who edited the script down to two fast hours, and a stellar cast, the affair and the show become a madcap comedy. That's good for audiences who would rather listen to Herman's wonderful songs and watch choreographer Jane Geddings' terrific dance numbers than see a star they may remember and love come to no good end.
The story starts as Mack (Jerry Slutzky) spots the awkward Mabel (Lori Beth Swenson) as a likely silent screen comedian when she delivers sandwiches from the deli next door to the movie set and gets entangled with some toughs who have come to reposses the props.
Mabel is indeed a hit in Mack's two-reelers, prompting movie producers Kleiman (Patrick Curran) and Fox (Justin Sargent) to invite the pair, plus their pal Fatty Arbuckle (Drew Lundquist), to Hollywood to make feature-length films.
Mack's forte, however, is two-reelers with lots of physical comedy -- Keystone Kops, Charlie Chaplin stuff -- and he denigrates Mabel's yearning to be a serious actress. Mabel is encouraged, though, by her pal Frank (Don Edmiston), a fledgling screenwriter, who pens a show named Molly just for her. When Mabel refuses to do any more goofy two-reelers and walks off the set to run away with director William Desmond Taylor (Lanny Freeman), who has promised her a big movie role, Mack lets her go.
It could (and did) spiral downward from there, but this version plays loose with historical fact for a happy ending and lots of laughs, not unusual for musicals.
Actors with star power, big dance numbers and colorful, solid, quickly-changed sets are great for any musical, but are essential for ones like this with a slight plot and predictable story. Happy for theatergoers, director Poole's 18-member cast and 31-member crew do an outstanding job with this one.
Slutzky, who also performs with the professional S.L.T. Productions in Tampa, is stellar as Sennett. His smooth voice and easy-going style are just right for the part of this lovable cad. He's most believeable when he admits he's insincere, crooning I Won't Send You Roses as glibly as Romeo delivers his pledge of fidelity. Sennett has no illusions of grandeur, as he confesses no desire to do an epic, I Wanna Make the World Laugh.
Ms. Swenson is his match as the wide-eyed, slightly daft, good Catholic girl, Mabel. She can belt and kick up her heels with the best in When Mabel Comes Home and the next moment bring tears with her Time Heals Everything, which she obviously knows isn't true. Ms. Swenson has won several Lary Awards (the Tampa Bay version of a Tony) over the past years, and it's likely this role will make her a contender for still another this year. She is marvelous.
Another Lary winner, Dominica Sinopoli (the dizzy blond in last season's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) is wonderful as Mabel's gum-snapping pal Lottie. Lundquist is outstanding as the jolly Arbuckle, and Freeman is his dependable suave-as-silk self in the role of Taylor.
A great line of dancers (Jenny Ashley, Kristen Bram, Celeste M. Cummins, Jo Ellen Hatfield, Christine Marlowe, Jeanee' Plexer, Nicole Vaporis and Star Dawn Verosic) are right in synch in the big, Hollywood-style production numbers, Tap Your Troubles Away and Hundreds of Girls.
The show was cemented by Poole's lavish costumes, dozens and scores of them, all glitter and feathers and spangles; Stella Gaukshteyn's spunky music and music direction; and Charlie Skelton's deft light and set design.
The involvement of nearly 50 people in this production shows in the attention to detail and the smooth going from start to finish.
If anyone had any doubts that Richey Suncoast could ever make a comeback from its doldrums of only a few years ago, this show (and this season) should put those doubts to rest.
Mack and Mabel, a musical by Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart in two acts, at Richey Suncoast Theatre, 6237 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey, weekends through Feb. 3. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12. Call (727) 842-6777.