Lady Lady. Oh.

42nd Street Moon definetly has been bitten by something wonderful. They have a very unique approach to the art that they create; purely joyful entertainment. The "forgotten musicals" they produce are of course slightly dated (1918 humor! What a hoot!) but the energy and spirit of the cast and music infuse their entire productions with wit, charm, and heart.

Oh Lady! Lady!! is certainly no exception to this rule. In their traditional (and somewhat unneccessary) staged concert format, the songs are lighthearted, plots are simple, and smiles are abundant. Coming from the style of the Princess Theatre musicals, one is never too anxious about the plot and how three couples (+ chorus and supporting roles) are going to turn out in the end. This is a time of unabashed love and committed union, where love conquers all and gosh darn it to everything else!

The show does suffer from some slight style issues. There were times in the play where the heightened stylized actions are not matched by some of the supporting roles, and many references to "young man" and "young woman" could possibly been changed to "man" or "woman"; sometimes suspension of disbelief can only go so far. But director Kalon Thibodeaux kept everything so lighthearted that the show as a whole makes up for any lacking; and the pace raced along, never giving enough time for the audience to check their watches.

What was the true joy of the evening were the performances themselves. The entire cast was tight, and was unique and hard working. Of particular note is a Moon veteran, Bill Fahrner, who gave a tender and incredibly honest streak in addition to his masterful comedy as Hale Underwood, and Meghann May who plays the enginue with a lightheartedness and soft comedy of a young woman in love. The true standout, however, is Michael Cassidy who plays Willoughby Finch, largely the straight man of the show, with incredible comic timing and quirks that are instantly endearing.

For a grand evening out, Oh Lady! Lady!! is a peach to see.