Slays with thoroughly modern production values Author: Jim Murphy Date: 06/10/2006 Words: 483 Publication: The Age Section: Metro Page: 17
MUSIC THEATRE
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE
New music by Jeanne Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan; book by Scanlan and Richard Morris. Directed by Roger Hodgman. The Production Company, State Theatre, until Sunday. Running time: 157 minutes
WITH the sparkle and fizz of the finest champagne, Thoroughly Modern Millie is just the sort of happy-go- lucky nonsense with which musical comedy made its name. It's a throwback to a previous era, certainly - but hey, being thrown back can be great fun.
The snap and style imparted by the splendid cast and by Roger Hodgman's immaculately timed direction, Dana Jolly's exuberant choreography, Richard Jeziorny's handsome set design and Victoria Rowell's colourful costumes put this Australian premiere right up with the Production Company's greatest successes.
The winner of a Tony Award for Best Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie is the 2001 stage adaptation of George Roy Hill's 1967 movie comedy that featured Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, Beatrice Lillie and Carol Channing. Its up-to-date (for 1922) heroine is a feisty out-of-town girl intent on marrying her boss just as soon as she can find someone to give her a job. Most of the people she meets in New York turn out to be not what they seem, in the best melodrama tradition. Why, one is even involved in the white slave trade.
The stage producers retained the movie's catchy title song but opted for a new score - well almost. Intermingled with Jeanine Tesori and Dick Scanlan's bright new songs are a couple of old operetta favourites from Victor Herbert's Naughty Marietta, revamped Tchaikovsky (for a speak-easy scene), new lyrics for the patter trio from Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore (as Millie exhibits her skill as a stenographer) and even Al Jolson's Mammy (sung in Chinese!).
Somehow, this musical mish-mash turns out to be just the ticket for the silly goings-on in the funny script, and musical director Kellie Dickerson pulls everything together brilliantly, with a grand contribution from Orchestra Victoria.
Chloe Dallimore (Millie) and Debra Byrne (the diva Muzzy Van Hossmere), proven leading ladies in big musicals (The Producers and Sunset Boulevard respectively), give the production heaps of star cred; Lucy Durack sparkles as Millie's ditzy friend, Miss Dorothy Brown; David Harris shines as Jimmy Smith, who is stuck on Millie; Adam Murphy has terrific presence as her starchy employer; Cindy Pritchard delivers a zestful cameo as the boss of the typists' pool; Mitchell Winter and Rick Lau are amusingly menacing "orientals"; and Nicki Wendt simply slays 'em as Mrs Meers, the hotel manageress with a sinister sideline - there's nothing anyone can teach her about putting across a line or a song, and her hoofing trio with the Chinese boys in the second act is a show-stopper.
Confident and polished, this production of Thoroughly Modern Millie belies the limited rehearsal time afforded these Production Company shows and is a credit to all involved. It should be running for six months instead of six performances.