'Swing!' Lives
Up to Its Name
Daily Dispatch: Dec. 14, 1999
The overall concept of
"Swing!" is rather loose and vague, and it's never really clear if we're in the
'40s or the present, but so what? This is a joyful, fun, scat-singin', jitter-buggin',
hip-poppin' show audiences will eagerly eat it up with the proverbial spoon. Taking its
inspiration from the music style of the title, the show offers the kind of plotless,
breathless, entertainment one could see in movie musicals of the period-a celebration of
the liberating effects of bubbly, Big Band sounds from the likes of Duke Ellington, Count
Basie, and Benny Goodman.
Lynne Taylor-Corbett is
listed as director-choreographer while Jerry Zaks is credited as production supervisor.
That makes its difficult to figure on who contributed what. In addition, several of the
dancers are credited in the program with creating their own choreography. But the total
package is a joy.
The evening begins with
Casey MacGill leading his band, The Gotham City Gates in "It Don't Mean a Thing If It
Ain't Got That Swing." MacGill, who possesses the sensuous moves and hopped-up energy
of Cab Callaway, sets the tone-Relax, cats, and get ready for some high steppin'. Then a
troop of dancers bound onto the stage and athletically twist around each other like
licorice. The dancing is exciting and explosive, but the singing paks just as strong a
punch.
Ann Hampton Callaway, one
of the leading ladies of the cabaret world, makes her impressive Broadway debut here as
what they used to call "the girl singer."
Her solid wailing on
"Blues in the Night" and sophisticated crooning on "Stompin' at the
Savoy" are the aural equivalent of eating a rich dessert-creamy and delicious. She
provides the highlight of the show in a witty scat duet of Ellington's
"Bli-Blip" with her equally enjoyable co-star Everett Bradley. Laura Bennanti
and Michael Gruber display solid pipes, too.
There are also imaginative
numbers involving a trombone and a cello, country-western hoe-downs, dream ballets, and a
USO show, flashy Willaim Ivey Long costumes, elegant Thomas Lynch sets, and poetic Kenneth
Posner lighting. This "Swing!" should keep Broadway hoofers employed for some
time.
