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Although Diamond Head Theatre's "Mame" belongs to Shari Lynn in the title role, 12-year-old Kanoa Goo just about owns Act I. Goo plays the role of young Patrick Dennis perfectly -- he's neither too cute nor too precious -- and he does an excellent job with "My Best Girl," his biggest vocal number in the musical and one of its most important. Talented cast makes
DHT’s ‘Mame’ shineBy John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com"Mame" just happens to be the favorite musical of DHT artistic director John Rampage, who's doing double-duty directing and choreographing this production. Rampage assembled a remarkably talented cast to support Shari Lynn's triumphant performance in the title role. Most of those in supporting roles -- and some members of the chorus -- would be leads in another shows.
Playing the fast-living, free-thinking Mame Dennis is a great role for a performer who loves Broadway musicals as much as Lynn does. She steps into the role with nary a step missed and is especially good with the more sensitive and subtle sides of the character ("My Best Girl" and "If He Walked Into My Life" in particular), resisting the temptation to play things too wacky. "Lovable eccentrics" can turn tedious fast. She gets great support from singers and dancers in the big song-and-dance numbers.
Lynn, Rampage, the ensemble, and Donald Yap and his orchestra, bring it all together as "The Fox Hunt" segues into "Mame," and "Mame" grows and blooms and soars as a glorious, if lyrically improbable, love song.
In contrast to the showiness of those numbers, Lynn's rendition of "If He Walked Into My Life" displays her maturity as a vocalist and perceptive interpreter of lyrics and emotion.
But back to wacky, which is certainly a factor here. The terms of his father's will send 10-year-old Patrick and his nanny, Agnes Gooch, to live with his only living relative, Mame, in New York City. Mame throws nightly parties involving large quantities of illegal substances. She takes Patrick to speakeasies, teaches him how to mix a good martini and sends him to an "experimental" school where children and adults frolic nude as part of the curriculum.
None of that sits well with Patrick's straight-arrow trustee, Dwight Babcock of the Knickerbocker Bank, who feels that a good private boys' school is a more appropriate learning environment. Babcock holds the purse strings, and eventually Patrick goes to boarding school. (Richard Pellett, who rarely if ever falls short of superb, blusters and bullies with fine comic results as Babcock in Act I.)
As Patrick grows up, Mame's wealth vanishes in the 1929 crash. She blunders through several short-lived jobs before lucking into marriage with the understanding (and independently wealthy) Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside and embarking on a life of travel.
Years later, Mame returns to New York to sabotage Patrick's impending marriage to a woman whose parents she doesn't approve of. Never mind that Patrick is an adult and should be free to choose a more conservative lifestyle.
Oh well. As Rampage remarks in his director's notes, the purpose of the show "is to entertain, not to change the world."
And entertain it does, thanks in large part to Wisa D'Orso, a spark plug in several scenes as Mame's abrasive friend, actress Vera Charles. D'Orso, Lynn and the ensemble create the shambles necessary to make "The Moon Song" soar.
D'Orso and Lynn also square off beautifully in the "Bosom Buddies" cat fight that erupts in Act II. D'Orso is hot as ever in a good comic role.
Zenia Zambrano (Agnes) morphs beautifully from drudge to glittering sex object in her showcase number ("Gooch's Song"). Gary Masuoka (Ito) delivers a solid performance as Mame's loyal Japanese house boy, and Cori Vas distinguishes himself as the grownup Patrick in Act II.
Gene Allen (B.J.P. Burnside) is instantly likable as the wealthy Southern aristocrat, while Jennifer Cleve, Lance W. Bateman and Ann Ogilvie are a great team as the villains of Act II. Cleve is charming as the oblivious air-headed babe Patrick wants to marry; Bateman and Ogilvie are hilarious as her jovial but conservative parents.
Twan Matthews (Gregor) was a hit with the preview crowd a week ago with his over-the-top portrayal of a flamboyant hairstylist.
Rampage and Karen G. Wolfe share the credit for the elaborate costumes that give the show much of its all-important glitter.
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