"Dames at Sea"

September 9, 2015 — I was frankly surprised at how shut down Lincoln, New Hampshire was only two days after Labor Day. With the temperature hovering around 90, the popular Clark's Trading Post and Hobo Railroad were both closed. My biggest disappointment was finding my favorite ice cream parlor closed for the season. I had lunch at the usually busy Truant's Tavern, and I was the only customer during the noon hour.

I had traveled to Lincoln for an afternoon performance of "Dames at Sea" at Jean's Playhouse. The musical, first produced off-broadway in 1966 with book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller and music by Jim Wise, featuring a newcomer named Bernadette Peters, is a take-off on the big Hollywood musicals. In an oft-repeated plot, a girl from the sticks with no experience gets her big break and becomes a star when the show's original star is incapacitated.

Directed and choreographed for Jean's by Julie Tomaino, this was a surprisingly good show, performed by a very talented young cast of six, with lots of energy, fine song numbers, and great tap-dancing. A live three-member band was good, but there was some distortion by the sound system, a problem I've noticed in other Jean's Playhouse shows.

It's the '30s, and Ruby (Kaylee Verble) arrives in New York from Utah with nothing in her luggage but dancing shoes. She begs producer Hennessey (David Dennison) for a part in his musical. Hennessey is reluctant, but the wise-cracking Joan (Catherine Skojec) convinces him to give her a chance. Prima donna Mona Kent (Anna Sheridan), the star of the show, has nothing but disdain for Ruby. Dick (Andrew Burton Kelley), a sailor, befriends Ruby.

In the second act, the cast has moved aboard a ship at sea after their theater is scheduled to be torn down. Dennison now plays his second role as the captain, a former love interest of Mona. A second sailor, Lucky (Josh Dennis) joins the cast. One of the highlights of the show for me was a duet by Dennison and Sheridan.

Ruby gets her big chance when Mona becomes seasick. She leads the cast in a well-choreographed production number at the end of the show. I should also mention the nice costumes by Hunter Dowell and Arianna Knox's set, especially the ship in the second act. My trip to Lincoln was rewarded in spite of the town's post-Labor Day slump. It will be revived when ski season starts up.