Ooh La La! Can Can at Westchester Broadway Theatre C’est Magnifique…..Rated Four Stars!!!!

BY GEORGE J. DACRE

With that great musical score by Cole Porter, the star-like quality of leading lady/singer Glory Crampton, great choreography, a great orchestra, costuming and stage presentation, “Can Can” at Westchester Broadway Theatre is a wonderful show.

The Can Can dancers shine in the performance. The lovely ladies put on a demonstration of the dance that caused such controversy in Paris’ Montparnesse way back in 1890, but survived and was brought to Broadway in 1953, and has titillated the world for more than a century. Tony Lawson’s put on a fine performance as the love struck magistrate Aristide Forestier, who was bent on stopping cafe owner La Mome Pistache (Grory Crampton) from having the Can Can performed in her bistro, but was smitten by the forceful French woman and she by he.

This romantic tension leads to some of the great Porter tunes including “C’est Magnifique,” “I Am In Love,” “It’s All Right With Me” and “I Love Paris.” Lawson and Crampton make beautiful music together and the story line is played out as Claudine (Lauralyn McClelland) perform the “Can Can” in the opening number “Maidens Typical of France” and joined by Pistache in the show’s finale “Can Can.”

There are French policemen, French artists, cafe waiters, models and a snake in a memorable performance of the “Garden Of Eden Ballet with Adam and Eve,” one of the most colorful and beautifully performed numbers in the two act production. The show is directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, aided by associate director/choreographer Jonathan Stahl and musical direction by Craig Barna.

Patrick Richwood is outstanding as Boris, a very nervous Parisian in love with one of the dancers. Claudine and the waiters do the amazing “Apache Dance” and the entire two acts go swiftly by in a delightful presentation. Crampton’s delivery of “Allez-Vous En” is a showstopper. The Can Can dancers Karolina Blonski, Courtney Chilton, Laura Elizabeth Henning, Kaitlin Niewoehner and Chloe Hurst are are something else.

Never mind the plot, just go and enjoy the music, the excitement of “Can Can” and you will see why I rate it Four Stars out of Four!!!!

Tickets at 914-592-2222 or broadwaytheatre.com

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