How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

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If you say the name Daniel Radcliffe to people, most would instantly answer "Harry Potter." But let me go on the record now and say that he is much more than that. And let me also state that he was NOT the reason I went to see the show. My sister and I were interested in the show, not just the boy wizard.

Stepping into a role played originally by Robert Morse in the 1960s and then Matthew Broderick and John Stamos in the 1990s, Radcliffe makes you forget that boy wizard fairly quickly. First off, there's the voice. Radcliffe does an excellent American accent and has very nice singing voice. Secondly, there's appearance. Hair slicked back, parted on the opposite side, dressed in business-wear, and most importantly, sans glasses, he looks very different from his movie role. Finally, there's movement. I doubt anyone would think that Harry Potter can dance. But Radcliffe can. He holds his own in a crowd of Broadway veteran dancers, executing Rob Ashford's choreography as if he's been doing it for years. However all is not perfect. He is shorter than most of the men on stage and looks like a little boy dressing up in his father's suit . The height difference between him and John Larroquette's J.B. Biggley is used to comic effect in the showstopping "Grand Ole Ivy" number. Radcliffe leapfrogs over Larroquette in the extended dance bridge of the number, but Larroquette simply lifts his leg over Radcliffe with no effort. Also, he, along with other actors, seems to be rushing his lines. A few times I felt that if I didn't know the show already, I'd be missing things.

While Radcliffe is the star of the show, for me, the best person on stage was Christopher Hanke playing Bud Frump. His take on the role was different than had been done previously and was quite enjoyable. Rose Hemingway as Rosemary was sweet and she had a nice voice and decent chemistry with Radcliffe. I was a bit disappointed in Mary Faber's Smitty, she lacked the bite that Victoria Clarke had brought to the role in the last revival. Rob Bartlett in the dual role of Mr. Twimble/Wally Womper was enjoyable, although I felt he swallowed some of the best lines in "Company Way." Least enjoyable for me was Tammy Blanchard as Hedy LaRue. I didn't think she was all that sexy looking that these men would fall all over her.

The show was directed/choreographed by Rob Ashford. Ashford is one of those choreographers who I both love and hate. When his choreography grows out of the song, it's wonderful (case in point, "Coffee Break", "Brotherhood of Man"). But sometimes, he lets the choreography overshadow the song and that irritates me. The choreography in "Company Way," while funny, was too much for the song and kept pulling my focus from Finch and Twimble to the mailroom guys dancing around them. And the movements in both the opening "How to Succeed" and "A Secretary is not a Toy" were just bizarre looking. Some people have stated that they don't like the dance number interpolated into "Grand Ole Ivy", but oddly enough, I like the addition of the ensemble to this number. There is one song that was in the original and is in this production but had been dropped in the last revival. It's called "Cinderella, Darling" and while it was nice to have the female dancers showing off their skills, I think I prefer the reprise of "How to Succeed" that was in the last revival.

The costumes for the show were an interesting mix. The men's costumes were mostly dark suits, business formal wear (including hats), while the women's were very colorful and not really what I think of when I think of secretarial wear for the 1960s. One problem with the costumes was that (except for one party scene), Rosemary was in the same dress! Come on, give the girl a wardrobe! But one interesting thing I noticed about Radcliffe's wardrobe. While he is in what seems to be the same black pants and white shirt throughout, his jacket changes to reflect that of the person he has most recently supplanted. Nice little touch.

Since the CD of this new cast is not yet available, I pulled out my copy of the last revival recording. And I have to admit, I like Radcliffe's voice better than Broderick's. Matthew seemed to be stressing vowels for the humor, but Radcliffe didn't. The two Rosemarys are equal, but again, I prefer Victoria Clarke to Mary Faber as Smitty. And I most definitely miss the sonorous voice of Walter Cronkite as the Narrator. Anderson Cooper provides the voice this time around, and while pleasant, it doesn't have the punch of Cronkite's voice.

Finally, I find myself wondering how this show will do once Radcliffe leaves. They've already cancelled a few shows during the summer when the last Harry Potter movie comes out. Is he in it for the long haul? Will he stay in the States for a couple of years to do the show? And if he goes, will the audiences that have flocked to see a dancing Harry Potter still show up? Only time will tell....

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Comments

[Haviva Horvitz]

I saw this one . . . but I don't remember it
Dear Mindy, I know I saw this one. I think it was with Matthew Broderick, but it may have been John Stamos. However, I don't remember the story much. Any thoughts what we will see when I am in town in June? Looking forward to it, whatever it is. Haviva