DRAM 1000 – Intro to Theatre Giselle Robles

Section 2 November 5, 2013

Crazy for You

I’ve always had a deep admiration of Theatre, something not many of my close friends

know, so when I decided to take this class I was extremely excited. That excitement has not gone

away; instead it’s only fueled the fire by requiring me to see this production, Crazy for You. I

have friends that were involved in the musical and couldn’t wait to see their hard work in person.

I was not disappointed in the least. I probably had the goofiest smile on my face the entire time,

laughing heartily, and clapping as loud as my little hands are able. I genuinely had an amazing

time and was so enthralled in the world of the play that I almost wanted an encore performance

at the end. We’ve learned in class about all the elements that go into a production and how

important it is for them all to work together to ensure the success of the show and, for me at

least, this show definitely hit all the marks wonderfully.

The first thing that really amazed me was the stage and set design when that curtain rose.

I honestly was confused as to how we were looking behind a stage whilst looking towards the

stage. I was extremely impressed with how real it felt. The way the screen on the Zangler’s

Follies stage was just see through enough that you felt like you were watching behind the scenes

was amazing. It felt so real and authentic, especially when Zangler and the Dancers went to take

their bows and all you could see was their silhouettes. I had no idea that they would transform

the stage so much. Suddenly we were then in front of the building and a car was on stage! They

clearly did their best as everything melded together so well and felt like they were really

transporting you. I didn’t think it could be topped but then I was proven dead wrong. Before you

knew it were taken to Deadrock, Nevada; there were two floored buildings, they were able to

take us into the saloon and even the theatre right next door, all of this happening right before our

eyes but still keeping us totally in the story.

I have always loved movie magic, but to witness this on stage magic totally blew my

mind every time; there was no editing, and it was all instant, in real time. It was so hard to

believe it was all happening on one stage and we weren’t really at all those different places. It

definitely made the performance that much more real as the stage came alive with the actors. The

stage wasn’t something static they were performing on, it became its own character, something I

had not expected going into the show. It worked perfectly as the theatre space was medium size

to me, which allowed for slight intimacy whilst still keeping the feel of watching a grand

performance, constantly keeping things fresh and bringing the audience on the journey with the

cast.

Language and character do play an important role in this show. By giving everyone a

specific voice the audience is able to much more easily identify where they are all coming from

or what their motives may be. It helps tell you who the characters really are. Bobby Child, the

male protagonist, uses almost innocent language. It is clear he isn’t a genius and is of very

average intelligence despite the fact he went to Harvard. He knows that he doesn’t want to work

in a bank for the rest of his life and has a dream of being on stage, dancing and performing for

hundreds of people. Bela Zangler has a Hungarian accent, something I felt was a plot device that

would allow for Bobby to impersonate him and be a stark contrast to Bobby’s normal way of

speaking. His mother talks in a posh tone, as does Irene, and it is made clear that they are of a

higher class than most and thus think that Bobby’s dream is silly. Polly has a country accent and

this helps convey that she is of a humble upbringing, someone who enjoys the simpler things as

that’s all she’s been exposed to, yet she is also a tough woman who can hold her own against

anyone.

The costumes also gave another layer to the characters. You were able to easily identify

who was who via the clothing choices. Bela Zangler was dressed very nicely and dapper, clearly

showing his importance and something Bobby was later able to recreate to take on his identity.

Bobby was dressed business like when introduced, and when he gets to Nevada he quickly

becomes disheveled as he is not used to that kind of rustic lifestyle. The inhabitants of Deadrock

are dressed clearly differently from anyone Bobby knows back in New York. They are all

cowboy types, wearing a cowboy hat, button down shirts tucked into their jeans which are in turn

tucked into their boots. Polly is the only girl in town and as such wears a nice blouse and skirt

seemingly made out of leather, this seems to tell us she is feminine but still knows how to handle

herself. Then the Zangler Dancers show up and are dress much more feminine in comparison to

Polly, catching the eyes of all of the cowboys in town.

The overall theme or message that I gathered from this show is that if you love

something, go for it. If you have a dream or life-long passion, do not let yourself be deterred by

taking an easier route or choosing to live a comfortable, secure life. You have to find the drive to

go after what you want and work hard to make it happen. Within this there were also other

smaller messages. Irene and Lank found love in an unlikely place, showing how although they’re

from completely different societies they’re differences and similarities could still bring them

together, much like Polly and Bobby.

The show was definitely meant to be a music and dance centered piece. The musical

breaks really help to move the plot forward and show the inner workings of the characters who

are singing without long winded monologues and still keeping the audience interested. An

example of this is the number “I Can’t be Bothered Now;” this happens early on in the show

when we are introduced to Irene and Bobbys mother. This part actually happens in Bobbys head

while the two women are arguing in front of him. It is appropriately used to show just where

Bobby’s head is really at. He doesn’t care that he hasn’t done anything grand in the business

world, nor does he have a desire to continue being a banker, he knows that where his true

happiness and future lies is dancing on stage with his show gal friends. As long as he keeps that

dream alive, nothing can get to him. The music is used to really emphasize how important this

idea is in Bobbys life by showing it instead of solely stating it. Dance is also used to help bring

the characters closer together and develop their relationships quickly on stage. This is

exemplified during “Shall We Dance?” number where Bobby and Polly dance alone and he is

able to impress her with his moves and this begins to open Polly up to him, allowing her to start

falling for him.

There is just enough spacing between each musical number that you do not get tired of

the singing and you are still emotionally engrossed in the story. The rhythm of the show is

definitely a fast one overall, whether it be the musical dance numbers like “Slap That Bass” or

“What Causes That?”, dialogue between characters such as when Zangler is trying to get rid of

Bobby or when Bobby enthusiastically explains his plan to save The Gaiety. Because of this

good pacing and rhythm, there is never a lull moment where there should not be, all of the softer

moments are placed at the perfect times. After the high energy performances, the audience is also

able to feed their energy right back to the performer. I felt that every time Bobby did a dance

routine, when the audience cheered for him it can almost be assumed he was imagining an

audience in his mind and that would be us, allowing him to have confidence in himself, as well

as the actual performer. It really is a give and take relationship between the audience and all of

the performers on stage.

All of these elements definitely worked wonderfully to create the spectacle we all

witnessed. All of these things were prepared individually, from the actors memorizing their lines,

having to dedicate time to memorize choreography, working on their vocals, to the technical staff

doing the set design and costumes, the pit creating the atmosphere with their instruments. All of

these things had to be worked on individually for a very long time before coming together, piece

by piece, during rehearsal. The way that the lights dimmed down on Polly when she sang

longingly for her love in the Gaiety Theatre, or the way Irene and Lottie mouthed their argument,

allowing the pit to come in, Bobby singing his number, and the car allowing his dream sequence

with the Zangler Dancers to flow seamlessly on stage. The end result was a terrific show full of

heart and energy that definitely made me excited for the rest of the productions that will be put

on throughout my next 4 years.

At the end of the show, I was extremely happy to have been able to see it firsthand. I

walked out still clapping and smiling to myself like an idiot. I immediately congratulated my

friends who worked on the show and began telling anyone who would listen how great it had

been. I had been surprised at how professional of a production it all seemed. The story may not

appeal to everyone but the acting and technical aspects are definitely enough reason to give it a

shot. I told my hall mates what an amazing time it had been and had recommended they go,

despite the low availability of tickets. Even days later, all I could think about was the hard work

that was clearly poured into it, from the stage design, to the costumes, to the dancing and

singing, to the orchestra; every day I found something new to obsess over in my mind. Overall,

this show was definitely a great way to see the elements of theatre that we have been learning

about this semester come to life.