Promises, Promises, book by Neil Simon, music by Burt Bacharach, lyrics by Hal David, based on the film "The Apartment" by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond, is a star vehicle, and its stars, Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth, shine brightly in this hit-song-filled musical.
The story is simple: a guy lends his apartment to married executives in the firm where he is trying to climb the ladder for their trysts, and the girl he loves just happens to be the mistress of one of them. Ha.
The show is really two shows: 1. The flashy, innovative, truly sexy choreography and zippy staging by the director/choreographer Rob Ashford who gives us an exciting chorus of top-level athletic, gymnastic dancers, and 2. The love quest of a charming everyman with great comic timing and physical agility, Hayes; and the most adorable leading lady on Broadway who brings great heart (and voice) to her singing of the lovely, memorable, hummable songs with clever lyrics and catchy tunes, Chenowith. The two elements seem to be from different shows, and while both are well done and engaging -- and I hope it has a long run, because I did enjoy it a lot -- I'd like to see a more intimate presentation of the love story without all the pizzazz and the attempt at dazzling us with footwork.
In Act 2, the amazing Katie Finneran does a turn as a drunken floozie that is a show-stealer. I will definitely be sneaking in at intermission to catch her again. Wow! She won the Supporting Actress Tony in Noises Off for doing a quadruple "take," and I bet she wins again for this bit.
The fine active set by Scott Pask, lighting by Donald Holder and super costumes by Bruce Pask enhance this light-hearted tuneful, enjoyable entertainment.
