(It's a favorite of mine, too.)Īs Man in Chair explains, the plot of the show we're imagining is about as basic as they come: A bride and groom cannot see each other on the day of their wedding, and hijinks ensue. Interjecting wise words of advice and historical tidbits throughout, Whitmore finds a lovely sentimentality in the role that I’ve never felt before, and Augustana's latest is the fourth production of this musical I’ve seen. And like a child watching his parents for their reactions, so does Man in Chair wait to see how the audience reacts to his favorite moments. The Drowsy Chaperone is Man in Chair’s favorite musical to listen to when he's feeling a bit blue. This was particularly problematic in “Fancy Dress,” because as we met each character, the stage grew more and more crowded, and by the time we got through the song, I had oftentimes lost track of what was happening because there were just so many people on stage.
Their voices did accentuate the music well (thanks to music director Michelle Crouch), but I fear the sheer magnitude of 34 performers distracted from the intimacy and made Man in Chair’s apartment seem incredibly cramped. Man in Chair perhaps needed to dial back on the brandy, though, because in introducing us to the 1928 Broadway cast album of The Drowsy Chaperone, he conjured up an ensemble that seemed a bit excessive. so 'drowsy' is a euphemism for 'tipsy.'” Exactly.) Everyone else we see is in our collective imagination in the 1920s, where dance numbers are plentiful and, despite prohibition, alcohol is “not.” (As the young man who sat next to me said to his companion, “Oh. Snuggled into his tiny efficiency apartment – a set keenly designed, complete with scene-setting brick skyline, by Emma Brutman – The Drowsy Chaperone's lead is given no name other than Man in Chair (Jaryd Whitmore), who is our host for the evening, and the only character who is actually there. That is exactly what you will get from attending Augustana College's production of The Drowsy Chaperone. What would happen if you invited a friend over to listen to an original Broadway cast album? You’d probably turn it on and imagine the show in your head, inserting your opinions about what was going on as you listened.
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