As the lights dimmed on an all-too-empty house and an aged reel of Vaudeville acts illuminated the stage floor, I writhed in anticipation for the show that was to follow this promising opening.
The MSU Department of Theatre's production of the classic Rodgers and Hart musical "Babes in Arms," is a beautiful culmination of 1930s Broadway nostalgia and the spirit of the contemporary stage. The performance of the new book by Joe DiPietro, featuring Randy Skinner's original Broadway choreography, is all but flawlessly executed by this group of energetic MSU students. The complex tap numbers were fabulous - which is no small compliment considering the cast had to not only learn the choreography but the basics of tap as well.
Perfectly assembled by director Greg Ganakas with a cohesiveness nearly unmatched on the university stage, the cast of "Babes" was seemingly tireless, sparing the audience any dull moments and reinforcing the show's mantra, "We've got youth, and we've got spirit, and there ain't nothin' better than that!"
The lighting and set designers used Pasant Theatre's thrust stage and stadium seating to their greatest advantage, including the projections on the stage floor that opened both acts.
The lighting schemes, however, were sometimes more distracting than effective. For the most part, they operatively created the mood and setting - from moonbeams on the water to the glitz and glamour of the babes' final production - but a couple of times the patterned lighting designs on the stage seemed more decorative than meaningful.
With a hilarious performance from community member Lela Ivey and the jaw-dropping dance talent of 16-year-old Will Slanger-Grant, Ganakas' decision to cast members of the show from outside the university proved a wise choice.
That, of course, is not to downplay the fantastic performances by the cast's MSU members. The vocal stylings of leads James R. Broughton and Stephanie Koenig were impressive and complementary, and the enormous stage presence of Annie Moss as Baby Rose extended well beyond the fourth wall into the seats around me. Kellyn Uhl had a natural air on stage as over-the-top Delores Reynolds, made more impressive by her second role as the show's dance captain.
The MSU Department of Theatre has set a new standard for itself and for a majority of university theater companies with its exciting and inspirational production of "Babes in Arms." I can only hope the audience will grow this weekend. Don't miss out on this fun show and a night of quality entertainment.