Don’t sit under the — what kind of tree? — with anybody else but — who?
The Littleton Town Hall Arts Center has put in a lot of work bringing the World War II revue “Swingtime Canteen” to its stage. And, well, it sure looks good.
But this production has its own war to wage on its many sound problems, starting with dulling or misbehaving body mics. There’s a terrific five- piece orchestra, but nothing approximating an acceptable sound mixture between band and bodies. There were solos happening 8 feet from my nose I couldn’t make out. Good thing we all already know the words. But considering Town Hall’s older demographic, lousy sound makes for an insurmountable foe.
If they give a “ten-hut” to these issues, they could yet have a decent-enough show on their hands. It’s hard to go wrong with standards like “Sentimental Journey” and “You’ll Never Know.”
Just be forewarned: This staged USO radio show comes with cardboard characters and maybe the most insipid book ever to accompany music on a stage.
It’s 1944, and five bickering Hollywood types are building musical morale in a London airfield hangar — nicely suggested in Tina Anderson’s detailed set design by metal corrugated sheeting (but the choreographic possibilities are severely restricted by cramming all five ladies onto a tiny, rounded performance stage).
Your stock characters are washed-up emcee Marian (Pat Mansfield), bratty blond Lilly (Michelle Merz), plain- Jane Jo (Maggie Tisdale), tough Rosie the Riveter knockoff Topeka (Margie Lamb) and far, far-too-young ingenue Katie (Bailey Walton). These are five way-talented singers, though only the bulletproof Merz offers up anything resembling a layered character. Much of the comic confidence that infused the Denver Center’s 1999 run starring Beth Flynn is missing here.
Problem is, you never know if director Melissa McCarl is going for aw-shucks sincerity or camp satire, because at different times, it could be construed as either. And that makes it awkward knowing just how to react at times. Like when the adorable and capable 14-year-old actor she has cast as Katie goes from channeling Shirley Temple to coming clean to her Aunt Marian that she married a soldier back in the States. The sheer visual inappropriateness has shades of “Ruthless the Musical,” but here, it’s not supposed to be funny.
That lack of defined tone takes away what little teeth this story has. When a bombing raid knocks out power and stops the show, it’s supposed to make these feuding ladies stop and reassess their own priorities and purpose. It does, but to no real emotional impact.
Despite these problems, “Swingtime Canteen” is an agreeable night of theater if only for the great music, and each actress gets to shine: Mansfield, Merz and Walton on a high-energy, 14-song Andrew Sisters medley; Tisdale on “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and the typically elegant Lamb rolling up her sleeves on brassy ditties like “His Rocking Horse Ran Away.”
Throw in “Don’t Fence Me In,” and lesser- known gems like “Daddy,” “Love Isn’t Born” and you can’t lose.
The harmonies are wonderful, but the bland dialogue strikes a false note. Maybe it’s just that the gender roles of the day haven’t aged as well as the music. “Swingtime Canteen” tries to hark back to supposedly better, more patriotic days. But also a time when the best a woman could do is stand (sing?) by her man, and keep his seat at the factory warm while he’s off to war.
Now that we’ve been at war longer than our involvement in World War II, all of this sentimental nostalgia should pack a bit more of an edge. But the tepid script just doesn’t swing true.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
“Swingtime Canteen” ** (out of four stars)
Patriotic revue. Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. Through May 11. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. $18-$34. 303-794-2787
