THEATER REVIEW : Tuneful Escapism of ‘Dames at Sea’ Revival Hits the Spot

GARDEN GROVE —  Long before the mammoth musical “42nd Street” exploded upon New York, the George Haimsohn/Robin Miller/Jim Wise chamber musical “Dames at Sea” played the same comic memory trick on theatergoers: It took them back decades to the days of the Great Depression, re-creating the fluffy, tinselly Hollywood musical genre that helped forlorn America smile and tap its foot while waiting for the prosperity that supposedly was just around the corner.

The Musical Theatre Company’s revival of “Dames” at the Gem Theatre is just in time for the hard days that seem to be enveloping Southern California. Its cheerful optimism, giddy lack of reality and tuneful escapism hit the spot.

The production, under George Quick’s sprightly direction, looks just right on the Gem’s smallish stage, which makes the cast of six look like many more.

It’s the purest and most basic satire--bold, brash and deliberately painted in primary colors. Broadway star Mona Kent (Beth Hansen) is about to open in her new vehicle, called “Dames at Sea.” But Hennesey (D.C. Anderson), her producer-director, has just lost his theater to creditors.

It’s also a bad break for tyro Ruby (D.J. Gray) who is about to be done out of her first chorus job. Then Dick and Lucky, a couple of sailors, show up, Ruby finds romance, and the troupe decides to produce the show on the deck of the sailors’ ship--since Mona’s old beau is the Captain. Yep, movies of the ‘30s often were like that.

The cast revels in the camp, in some cases too much so. Gray’s pouty Shirley Temple childishness takes away from her otherwise solid performance as Ruby, the Utah girl who arrived in Manhattan with only a pair of tap shoes in her bag. Similarly, Hansen’s flamboyance and mugging as Mona keep her from getting some laughs that she otherwise deserves.

But the rest of the actors are so honest that you can believe every outrageous moment they’re on stage. Kent Helwig’s sailor Dick is the ultimate wide-eyed ‘30s film juvenile, innocent as the day he was born, but with a sheaf of hit tunes stuffed into his bell-bottoms. His pal Lucky is played by Tim Klega with the same overriding energy and pluck that earmarked the best friend of every hero in the genre.

The whole cast sings the purposefully reminiscent score with style and heart, but the style is best captured by Karen Angela as Joan, the chorine who befriends Ruby (and happens to have had a long-running affair with Lucky). Angela’s brash, snappy reading couldn’t be more on target. Anderson also is absolutely right as to period and style, and often is very funny doubling as frantic Hennesey and the simpleton Captain, who has a withering obsession with Mona.

Cristan Jonas’ costumes are all as ‘30s as can be, except for Dick and Lucky’s Navy whites (Jonas should have dressed them in the real thing instead of cute imitations). Tim Mueller’s settings work well (especially the ship’s matched cannons), and Susan Errickson’s choreography has the right dance-class simplicity.

* “Dames at Sea,” Gem Theatre, 12852 Main St., Garden Grove. Thursdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Closes Aug. 20. $20-$26. (714) 636-7213. Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes.

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* “Dames at Sea,” Gem Theatre, 12852 Main St., Garden Grove. Thursdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays Aug. 13 and 20, 7 p.m. Closes Aug. 20. $20-$26. (714) 636-7213. Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes. Beth Hansen: Mona Kent

Karen Angela: Joan

D.C. Anderson: Hennesey/Captain

D.J. Gray: Ruby

Kent Helwig: Dick

Tim Klega: Lucky

A Musical Theatre Company production of a musical with book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller and music by Jim Wise, produced and directed by George Quick with choreography by Susan Errickson. Scenic design: Tim Mueller. Costume design: Cristan Jonas. Lighting design: D. Silvio Volonte. Sound design: David Edwards. Stage manager: Nancy Staiger.