By Eric W. Schoen
The hottest ticket in town this week is for one of Broadway’s great musical reviews, “Ain’t Misbehavin,’” the Fats Waller musicale playing at the Westchester Broadway Theater in Elmsford through Sunday. There was a sold-out house at the performance I attended last weekend, so my guess is the word is out about what makes this “Ain’t Misbehavin’” so special.
This first-class production is directed by the Tony-Award-winning director of the original Broadway production, Richard Maltby Jr. That alone shows you how much respect Westchester Broadway Theater has in the theater world. Maltby went on win a Tony Award for “Fosse,” was director/lyricist for “Baby,” and was the lyricist for “Big” and co-lyricist for “Miss Saigon,” among other Broadway productions.
“Ain’t Misbehavin’” has been one of the most popular, well-crafted revue shows of all time and winner of the 1978 Tony Award for best musical. It’s is a salute to the Harlem Renaissance, when black musicians played at Manhattan clubs frequented by high society.
Thomas “Fats” Waller rose to international fame during the Golden Age of the Cotton Club and that jumpin’ new beat, swing music. The show evokes the delightful humor and infectious energy of this American original as the cast struts, strums and sings the songs that he made famous in a career that ranged from uptown clubs to downtown Tin Pan Alley, to Hollywood and concert stages in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
And all we want is for the songs to keep on coming from a cast of five so expertly directed by Maltby. The title song “Ain’t Misbehavin’” is followed by hits such as “Ain’t Nobody’s Business,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” “The Joint is Jumpin,’” “Mean to Me,” and so many more. The finale is a compilation of “songs by others” that Waller made hits including “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter,” “Two Sleepy People” and “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love.”
Seriously, who could ask for anything more?
I would be remiss in not saluting the actors who bring this party to life, just like Nell Carter, Ken Page, Andre DeShields, Irene Cara and Armelia McQueen did in the original. M. Martinè Allard, Ron Lucas, Tony Perry, Amy Jo Philips and Anita Welch, along with Musical Director William Foster McDaniel who tickles the ivories on stage as pianist, all have extensive musical credentials and together “Make the Joint Jumpin.’”
The audience – people of all ages – sang and clapped along and danced in the aisles to the intoxicating music. The show delights and energizes audiences, as well as provides great insight into a vibrant time in American history and music. It’s just what we need in this crazy world we live in!
So, gather the family and do what you must to get tickets for “Ain’t Misbehavin’” this weekend at Westchester Broadway Theater. The food (order the thick and juicy prime rib), served by a marvelous waitstaff makes, for a wonderful night out close to home!
