New York City banker Bobby Child (Conor Devoe) has a dream — dancing dreams — but his parents just aren’t having it. Neither is his fiancée, Irene (Morgan Peters), who’s wondering why they’ve been engaged for five years without wedding bells… and she’s understandably at her wit’s end. His parents’ plan is to send him to Deadrock, Nevada to foreclose a rundown theater. His plan is to dance for the acclaimed artistic director Bela Zangler (Tony Michaels), but one quick mishap during an impromptu audition and he’s on the first train to Deadrock.
That’s where he meets Polly Baker (Danielle Altizio), small town mail courier and daughter to the once successful theater owner. She’s pursued relentlessly by Lank (Sean McGrory), who’s also got an interest in buying said theater. He’s the only one in town with a bit of ambition, as the rest of the town has given up. Struck by hard times and poverty, Deadrock is a typical post-mining town down on its luck.
A magical night of dancing allows Polly to learn that Bobby is the banker who’s come to take down the theater. So Bobby schemes up a plan to get the girl — and his dreams — thus beginning this classic tale of disguise and mistaken identities.
Of course, the real love story is Irene stumbling into town to track down Bobby and, en route, finding a kindred spirit in Lank. The two completely understand and bring out the best in each other. Peters’s rendition of “Naughty Baby” and her chemistry with Sean McGrory make us beg for a Lank-Irene spin-off, while unfortunately Bobby and Polly’s love story feels a bit dated; kissing a girl you’ve just met without her consent? A big no. 2018 much prefers Irene-Lank’s gusto and mutuality to Bobby’s chase.
Of course, ultimately, the true hero is the art. It’s the coming together of a group of artists to save and enrich their community. This collaboration and resilience is what makes this love story unique.
Bay Area Musicals’ Founder & Artistic Director Matthew McCoy skillfully recreates this musical (which is loosely based on the 1930 musical Girl Crazy with Ethel Merman and Ginger Rogers) and the follow-up 1943 movie adaptation with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. He manages to make it fresh and fun, with a superb cast of talented actors and dancers. The quaint western set up is done by a very talented Kuo-Hao Lo, and provides quick-paced changes that keep the energy flowing. Memorable popular tunes include “I Got Rhythm,” “Naughty Baby,” “But Not for Me,” and “Embraceable You.”
Crazy For You is presented by Bay Area Musicals, and will be playing at the Alcazar Theatre in San Francisco now through December 16th. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.bamsf.org/crazy-for-you/
