"Nice Work If You Can Get It" on Broadway

Do you like cotton candy? If so, then the new Broadway musical “Nice Work If You Can Get” may be the show for you.

The show features phenomenal dance sequences by director-choreographer Kathleen Marshall, nineteen marvelous, well-known songs by George and Ira Gershwin and the beautiful voice of Kelli O'Hara.

It has an original story by Joe Dipietro (Memphis), gently spoofing old Broadway musicals (“Oh, Kay!,” “Anything Goes”) and old musical movies (“Top Hat,” “Gay Divorcee”). Every once in a while there’s a nod to the present day with a dig at politics and the upper class.

It's prohibition time and to avoid the cops, Billie Bendix (O’Hara) stashes cases of booze in the basement of the Long Island mansion owned by playboy Jimmy Winter. Winter (Matthew Broderick) is a playboy about to marry for the fourth time. Jimmy is a wastrel and a ladies man, but very pleasant. All of the girls adore him and he returns the sentiment, falling in love easily. On the eve of his marriage, he is attracted to the tough-talking, gun-toting Billie.

Unexpectedly, though not to the audience, Jimmy and his new wife arrive at the house, where Bellie and her cohorts, the goofy gawky Duke and Cookie (a wonderful no-nonsense tough guy, Michael McGrath) disguise themselves as household servants to protect their booze. Jimmy and Billie fall in love, and fortunately, Jimmy's wedding turns out to be illegal since he never got a legal annulment from bride number three. Jimmy’s mom, (the dynamic Estelle Parsons) appears and all is straightened out with the characters living happily ever after. Nothing happens in the story that we don’t expect or anticipate, but it makes little difference.

Broderick is amiable as an agreeable playboy, but he’s merely a passable singer and dancer. He had far more chemistry with Nathan Lane, his co-star in “The Producers,” than he does with O’Hara here. Undoubtedly, he was cast because of his relationship with Marshall and his bankable name, not because he fit the part. He is the greatest flaw in the production. O’Hara, on the other hand, is a delight. Lovely and talented, she has a gorgeous voice and is a good comedic actress.

The dance sequences are creative and extremely athletic. Almost every song leads to a dance. In one wonderful number, Jimmy and Billie cavort all around the stage; on the couch, the stairs and every piece of furniture. When Jimmy’s fiancee, Eileen (Jennifer Laura Thompson) sings “Delicious” in her bath, a group of chorus girls and boys emerge from the tub. Thompson’s performance is reminiscent of Madeline Kahn.

There’s a talented ensemble that add their voices and comedic talents to the show. Judy Kaye is the stuffy teetotaler Estonia Dulworth who literally swings from the chandeliers as she hits operatic high notes. Robyn Hurder and Chris Sullivan play comic lovers who sing “Blah, Blah, Blah.”

The book gratuitously tosses in the music. Some of the songs barely fit but most in the audience seemed delighted by the familiar music like "Looking For A Boy,” "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off,” “Fascinating Rhythm,” and “Someone To Watch Over Me.”

The show has everything to attract a Wednesday matinee crowd. With the music it has going for it, it could have been “S’wonderful”, instead it was just S’okay.

“Nice Work If You Can Get It” is playing at the Imperial Theatre, 249 West 45th St., New York, New York. For more information, visit http://niceworkonbroadway.com/.