Broadway Theater Review: On the Twentieth Century with Kristin Chenoweth

Revival Has Its Whistlestops, but Goes Off Track
By Lauren Yarger
Everyone is all aboard for Kristin Chenoweth as zany Lily Garland in Roundabout Theatre's revival of the Cy Coleman musical On the Twentieth Century.

She has received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for the part and probably will win one or all of them. The Broadway darling always draws rave reviews, whether she she is turning in  a stellar performance or not. Actually, people stand and applaud if she just speaks, so the Tonys have tapped her as co-host of the June 7 Tony Awards with Alan Cumming. Her appeal transcends the stage -- she also is the popular star of films ("RV,"  "Four Christmases") and TV ("The West Wing." "Pushing Daisies").

So why wasn't I blown away by her performance in On the Twentieth Century?

Don't get me wrong. She's good. And funny. But I honestly didn't think it was beyond any performance I have seen this season. In fact. Chenoweth didn't look quite well. Somehow strained. So I suppose I'll have to pass it off to her having a bad day, given the glowing accolades she is receiving.

Also not impressing me too much was her leading man, Peter Gallagher, who recently had been out due to voice strain and who sounded as though he hadn't yet had enough rest. The repetitive-sounding Coleman score isn't one of his most exciting either, so overall, I kept waiting for this train to pull out of the station.

The book Book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green (who gave us other classics like Applause and On the Town, which also is enjoying a revival this year on Broadway) are based on  plays by Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur and Bruce Millholland. It tells the 1932 story of characters bound from Chicago to New York aboard the luxury train the Twentieth Century Limited (designed by David Rockwell, who has received a Tony nomination) where theater producer Oscar Jaffee (Gallagher) hopes to convince successful Hollywood actress Garland, whom he discovered when she was boring Mildred Plotka, to star in his new play and save his career.

Lily's attentions are focused on her boy toy, Bruce Granit (Andy Karl, nominated for a Featured Actor Tony), so Oscar enlists the help of Owen O'Malley (Michael McGrath) and Oliver Webb (Mark Linn-Baker), his press agent and business manager, to get Lily to sign a contract. They discover wealthy investor  Leticia Peabody Primrose (Marie Louise Wilson) is on board and get her backing for a show they make up on the spot.

Director Scott Ellis and Choreographer Warren Carlyle move the actors about on board the train, send them into flashback sequences and even throw in some tap dancing. For some reason, a lot of tongues are used and one scene features some kink sexual activity. I thought this was 1932? I do thank Ellis for not having the characters actually light the cigarettes they are holding. (So unnecessary in theater.) Costume Designer William Ivey Long gets it right, with each period costume specifically made for the character and with rich fabrics all working together.

My favorite part was watching Baker and McGrath. They have great on-stage chemistry and lots of comedic chops.

On the Twentieth Century, which is nominated for a Best Revival Tony, has extended its voyage at American Airlines Theatre, 227 West 42nd St., NYC through July 19. Performances are Tuesday - Saturday a t 8 pm; Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday  at 2 pm. Tickets are $67 - $147: http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/.

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-- Sexual activity