A play worthy of a rave

Step back, Folks! I’m going to let loose a rave.

Hillbarn Theatre in Foster City has had some successful musical productions in the past few years but "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” may be its best ever.

Whenever, I review an outstanding staging like this, I ask myself, can this be done better by anyone else, anywhere else? One would be hard put to find any.

OK! I know! It’s a 47-year-old Broadway warhorse, a musical satire of big business by two of its Hall of Fame talents, Frank Loesser and Abe Burrows. But with direction and catchy choreography by Bill Starr, cleverly designed moveable sets by Lee Basham, creative lighting by Don Coluzzi and a super cast lead by a sensational, award-worthy performance by Joe Duffy, this one still really swings.

The plot for this musical was inspired by a 1952 bestseller book of the same name by Shepherd Mead and won a Tony and a Pulitzer Prize in 1962. J. Pierrepont Finch (Joe Duffy), a young, ambitious window washer takes the book to heart and begins to follow its suggestions as he breaks into the corporate culture of the World Wide Wicket Company and schemes how to climb its executive ladder.

Joe Duffy’s Broadway and other professional Equity experiences clearly mark his performance. His acting, singing, dancing and reactions are flawless and what could just be a very good show becomes a "don’t miss this one!”

There are, also, some outstanding performances by familiar local faces that expose previously unrevealed talents. As J.B. Biggley, the irascible boss and president of the company, John Musgrave adds singing to his remarkable range of characterizations in Bay Area productions. Ron Lopez releases from his limitless repertoire a flood of sidesplitting comic reactions as Bud Frump, Biggley’s incompetent and scheming nephew, the chief villain and antagonist to Pierrepont’s rise in the corporate structure.

Newcomers to Hillbarn: Alicia Teeter is Rosemary, a company secretary who becomes Pierrepont’s love interest. Her combined good acting and beautiful voice leads to some unintentional scene stealing. Joyce Jacobson does a knockout, funny job as Hedy Larue, the boss’ secret mistress, an ex-night club cigarette girl with no business skills whom he tries to slip into the company as a steno-secretary, with disastrous results.

Then, there are the corporate clones doing their work "the company way.” Jacqueline McCarley is Rosemary’s best friend, Smitty. Celeste Russi is the supercilious Miss Jones, the president’s secretary. Ken Brill is Mr. Bratt, the personnel manager. Jack Ramage is Mr. Twimble, a company man who served loyally for 25 years in the same job. David Meacham is the lecherous Mr. Gratch and Mark Bowles is the earthy Mr. Womper, who, as chairman of the board, is the real boss of the corporation.

Also featured in varying roles and in dancing are Alan Hafter, Adam Simpson, Ruth Sieber, Gary Gerber, Arlene Bugayong, Kathleen Gabriel, Lauren Herman, Nicole Martin, Martha McDowell, Laura Noguchi, Regina Quigley, Joseph Freedman and Trevor Meachem.

None of the music in the show will ever enter the classic songbooks but they do effectively carry the story along and range from catchy to very beautiful.

OK! You can come back now. I’m done raving.

IF YOU GO:

"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”

Book by: Abe Burrows

Music and Lyrics: by Frank Loesser

PERFORMED BY: Hillbarn Theatre

directed and choreographed by: Bill Starr

WHERE: 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City

WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Closes June 7.

TICKETS: $17 - $34.

CONTACT: 349-6411 or www.hillbarntheatre.org