Kicklines and Sequins Highlight Crazy For You at Timber Creek

by Valerie Marks, Cypress Creek High School

All Singing! All Dancing! All Gershwin! The glitz and splendor of the all-American musical of the 1930s came alive in Timber Creek High School’s Crazy for You, resurrecting the era of kicklines and sequins.

Following the story of distraught Bobby Child who has a passion for theatre but a job at the bank, the musical opens with his mother and fiancée forcing him to give up his dreams in New York. His dire situation reverses, however, when he is sent to the sleepy town of Deadrock, Nevada to foreclose on an old theatre. Instead, he begins to stage a production of his own and in doing so, falls in love with the owner of the theatre.

The delightfully awkward Bobby Child (Aaron Godwin) nimbly dances his way through nearly every song in the musical, including “Slap That Bass”, an ode to the jazz of the time. The duo of Bobby and Polly Baker (Jeannie Tirado), his at-times-unwilling love, was adorably naïve and Tirado’s voice was melodious.

Dancing circles around the cast (literally) were the Follies Girls, with their high kicking and tap dancing. With Tess (Kristen Holder) shining out in front, the Follies Girls were an energetic and entertaining ensemble. Bela Zangler (Josh McDonald), a famous Broadway friend of Bobby’s, was comically adept as the bumbling womanizer. Bobby disguised as Zangler is almost better than Bobby himself and Godwin and McDonald’s duet “What Causes This?” had the audience laughing almost continuously.

The versatile set pieces (Aaron Godwin and Kendra McNatt) were highly functional, converting from the outside to the inside of Deadrock, Arizona. The costume changes were executed well and the numerous costumes (Ashley Kitzman and Elyannie Bonano) were well-tailored and chronologically appropriate with everything from “Zangler’s” crazy plaid suit to 12 each of the Follies Girls’ different sets of costumes. Despite a lack of energy and commitment by some of the cast as well as some sound issues, the entire cast worked extremely well together. They made their way through the energetic choreography (Kristen Holder) well, seeming to really enjoy themselves with the moves at times reminiscent of Busby Berkeley.

This 1990s adaptation of the 1930s Girl Crazy was a trip back in time to the era of bobbed hair and jazz. Timber Creek’s large cast showed the audience they got rhythm with this musical from George and Ira Gershwin. It’s nice work….if you can get it.

Originally published in The Backstage Noise, Summer, 2006