WERS 88.9 fm - Album Review: The Drowsy Chaperone

For the past century, musicals have entertained millions through their combination of narrative, songwriting, and acting. During the Jazz Age, musicals brought an escape from reality to eager theatergoers. Some people like to look back at the theatre’s formative years with a strong sense of nostalgia. This reminiscing of the past is the idea behind one of Broadway’s latest hits, The Drowsy Chaperone.

Billed as “A Musical Within A Comedy”, the plot revolves around a man who imagines a favorite production of his come to life. The musical is called The Drowsy Chaperone, and the audience goes along with the man as he describes the story. The story includes clichés of many theatre productions done in a humorous manner, including angry lovers, a butler, a tough heroine, and slapstick comedy.

The musical’s creators, Bob Martin, Don McKellar, and Greg Morrison, got the concept from a skit they performed for a friend’s wedding party. The production is currently featured on Broadway, in London, and now on a North American tour. Bob Saget of Full House (and a ribald stand-up act) fame is a member of the current Broadway cast. Australian and Japanese versions are also in the works for 2008.  

To coincide with the original Broadway production, The Drowsy Chaperone Original Cast Recording was released on Ghostlight Records. It includes two bonus tracks not found within the actual musical, “I Remember Love” and “Message From A Nightingale”. Fans of the musical, or the genre in general, are sure to enjoy it.