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BROADWAY
GETS IN THE SWING OF THINGS
By ROBERT FELDBERG, Staff Writer
Date: 12-10-1999, Friday
SWING!: A Broadway musical revue, at the St. James Theater, 246 W. 44th St.
With Ann Hampton Callaway, Everett Bradley, and Laura Benanti. Directed and
choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett. $20 to $75. (212)
239-6200.
Swing dancing is where it's at this theater season. First, there was
"Contact," a huge hit. And Thursday night, "Swing!" opened at the
St. James Theater.
While not as theatrically sophisticated as "Contact," the new show has its
own considerable charm, and is a lot of fun.
The evening is a succession of musical numbers, sung or danced, sometimes both. And
while swing music is at its core, and provides the energy for the fast-paced show, there's
also some welcome variety.
In one sequence, set at a World War II USO dance, the gutsy-voiced Ann Hampton
Callaway sings the old ballad "I'll Be Seeing You" as a couple dances in rather
old-fashioned "Broadway ballet" style.
What's charming about the number is its utter sincerity. There's nothing ironic or
satirical about it, and that quality of simple joyfulness in the songs and styles of the
Thirties and Forties swing era -- underlined by the highly colorful costumes of
William Ivey Long -- is what makes the show such an entertaining two hours.
The music is a mix of standards -- "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "In the
Mood," "Stompin' at the Savoy" -- and some new swing tunes that are
seamlessly woven into the mix.
In addition to the full-throated, vibrant Callaway, there's a very flavorful swing-period
performance by singer-musician Casey MacGill, and amusing, well-sung contributions from
Laura Benanti (who was the replacement Maria in the recent Broadway revival of "The
Sound of Music").
There's also a first-rate swing band, and, most crucially, a talented, exuberant group of
dancers, who seem to be having as great a time as the audience. The dance company is a mix
of show performers, of whom Caitlin Carter, Scott Fowler, and Beverly Durand are most
notable, and swing teams, including a remarkable British-born Lindy couple, Ryan Francois
and Jenny Thomas, and the country-swing pair of Robert Royston and Laureen Baldovi.
There's also an eye-opening Latin swing number performed by Carlos Sierra-Lopez and Maria
Torres.
Under the imaginative direction and choreography of Lynne Taylor-Corbett, many of the
numbers are given a very light story element -- a courting couple, a lonely soldier at the
USO dance -- that provides just the right amount of dramatic texture without obscuring the
singing or dancing.
"Swing" also has some delightful novelty numbers, including a bungee-jumping
dance, and Benanti's funny and provocative duet with a trombone (played by Steve Armour)
on "Cry Me a River."
The highest point of the evening is a rafter-shaking version of "Sing, Sing,
Sing," a song that also provides one of the show-stopping moments in
"Contact." This swing stuff just might catch on.
