‘Stardust’

Off-Broadstreet Theatre offers a magical evening highlighting the lyrics of Mitchell Parish.

By: Stuart Duncan

Jennifer Groom (left), Joyce LaBriola (center) and Marla Endick appear in Stardust, at Off-Broadstreet Theatre in Hopewell through May 11.

   It’s hard to believe the next show at Off-Broadstreet Theatre in Hopewell will be its 150th production. That is 15 years of staging every form of theater from Shakespeare and Shaw to boutique musicals and British bedroom farces — at what has become one of the area’s most successful venues.
   From the beginning, musical revues were an important staple at Off-Broadstreet — including intimate looks at Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Noel Coward and many others. In fact, the current production, number 149, is just about the best of the lot.
   Stardust is not, as you might expect, the music of Hoagy Carmichael, but based on the lyrics of Mitchell Parish. In fact, it is the first revue to celebrate lyrics rather than the composers’ work. Parish, it turns out, collaborated with more than 100 composers, as diverse as Cab Calloway and Leroy Anderson, Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller, on tunes as different as "Stars Fell On Alabama" to "The Scat Song"; from "Deep Purple" to "Volare."
   That is only part of the magic of this particular evening. The rest of it lies with the extraordinary talents of six performers — three men and three women; a fine band of five (Kathy Ridl on bass, Linda Docar on drums, Tom Twardowski on trumpet, Don Lebentritt on reeds and, conducting from the piano, Ed McCall) plus the Thicks: Bob, who has directed and designed the set, and his wife, Julie, who has added some strong choreography.
   Make no mistake: The voices blend with a sweet harmony seldom heard in local theater, and the dances are far beyond the norm. Each performer has a chance to shine individually — Marla Endick singing "Sophisticated Lady"; newcomer Jamal Sawab Howard crooning "Deep Purple"; Joyce LaBriola singing "Stairway to the Stars"; Tom Orr introducing "You’re So Indiff’rent"; Jennifer Groom gently rendering "Take Me In Your Arms," then joining Gary Wellbrock for "I Would if I Could, But I Can’t" (partially written by Bing Crosby.)
   They save the best for ensemble numbers: the men belting "The Organ Grinder’s Swing," the ladies singing "Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia." Everyone taps in a number or two. And, of course, there is the title song, "Stardust." Meanwhile, Ed McCall and the band are underscoring and accompanying, never overpowering the singers, complementing rather than confronting.
   It’s a wonderful evening — what Off-Broadstreet does best, at its very best. Stardust is another hit, sell-out show.
Stardust plays at Off-Broadstreet Theatre, 5 S. Greenwood Ave., Hopewell, through May 11. Performances: Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun. 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22.40 Fri., Sun.; $24 Sat. For information, call (609) 466-2766.