© Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
Feb. 26, 1976
'Happy Fella' at Long Beach
by Suzon Forscey
Long Beach Civic Light Opera and director Gary Davis
have dished up a fine
Italian feast with the current production of Frank Loesser's "The Most
Happy Fella". Like a big family dinner, the musical revels in the heartiness
of pasta, the warm sentimentality of chianti, and lasts a good three hours.
The fella of the title is Tony, the Napa Valley grape grower who weds, loses
and reclaims a years-younger mail-order bride. By the power of his voice,
Michael Quinn makes Tony a man whose follishness is outwieghted by his innate
dignity and passion. And, despite the surname, Quinn (who has done a great
deal of opera) manages broken English like a genuine son of Palermo.
Though the most familiar numbers ("Standing on the Corner", "Big D" and
"Joey, Joey, Joey") are exceptions, the score is largely operatic. Quinn
is the standout but Victoria Mallory as the petite brunette bride and Lowell
Harris as the macho foreman complete an almost equilateral musical triangle.
The buoyant "Abbondanza", performed by a chef-hatted trio, (Vince Tani, Stan
Throneberry and Michael Ross) crowns the show with its zippy Italian lyrics
and happily universal celebration of a good time.
Wayne Bryan and a Betty Huttonish Kelly Britt are energetic as gawky,
misplaced Texans while Pauline Foley as Tony's meddling sister handles
the music gracefully but unfortunately is non-immigrant in speech.
Steve Minter's photographer is too much a burlesque but otherwise the cast
(like Jim LaRue's costumes) is all of a piece.
Dom Salinaro's choreography is as happy as a block party while the scenery
(credited to Spectrum Scenic Studios) is bright and effectively three-
dimensional whether San Francisco cafe or gothic Napa stores.
You can sit down to "The Most Happy Fella" Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30pm
and Sundays at 2:30pm through March 7 at Jordan Auditorium, Atlantic
and Artesia Blvds. in Long Beach. No Alka-Seltzer needed.
Back to The Most Happy Fella page.
