Prior to intermission, there’s a musical revue celebrating the golden age of Hollywood. A cast largely consisting of Skylight regulars is impeccably dressed in classic outfits for ushers, with hair and make-up that perfectly capture the ’30s. Most of the music is highly recognizable. With such a variety of performances, the occasional weak moments rush by without consequence. The big showstopper before intermission features the entire cast tap-dancing to excerpts from the Motion Picture Production Code of 1930. The rhythm, percussion, precision and delivery are positively hypnotic.
The show returns from intermission for a musical adaptation of a one-act play by Anton Chekhov—a musical adaptation done in the style of the Marx Brothers. Not nearly as strange as one might expect, the comedy is thoroughly enjoyable. Norman Moses makes for a very authentic Groucho, and Ray Jivoff plays a brilliantly comic Harpo. Jivoff truly inhabits the original character, all the way down to subtle changes in facial expressions. Benjamin Howes’ comic instinct is on display as Chico, even when the comic Italian accent isn’t perfect. Chase Stoeger is a perfect choice for a charismatic, Zeppo-esque lead in the serious romantic subplot that tastefully mirrors those found in classic Marx Brothers films.
The Skylight’s production of A Day in Hollywood/ A Night in the Ukraine runs through April 4 at the Broadway Theatre Center.
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