Just what is Crazy For You? It's an excuse to play a lot of Gershwin music. It could have been a delightful revue with many of the Gershwin brothers' favorites, including "I Can't Be Bothered Now," "Bidin' My Time," "Shall We Dance," "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Embraceable You," "I Got Rhythm," and "Nice Work If You Can Get It." And there is dance, lots of dance.
However, Crazy For You is not a revue. It is a fully-scripted production with book by Ken Ludwig, co-conceived with Mike Ockrent and inspired by material by Guy Bolton and John McGowan. Somewhere along the way the results became a cliche-filled, "Let's put on a show" out here in the sticks. Now didn't Bing Crosby do that? Didn't Mickey Rooney do that? Gosh, how many others have done that? So the book is a bore.
The dancing and song arrangements reek of the 20s and 30s, which, of course, fits perfectly for the Gershwin melodies. But very few contemporary audiences can identify with anything about this production beyond the music.
What the show does have going for it is a very talented young cast. Doug Barton, who plays the lead, Bobby Child, is excellent in voice and dance. Equally talented is his co-star, Kelly Lynn Cosme, in the role of Polly Baker, his true love. The cast, mostly young dancers and singers, bring a frenetic energy to the production. It is this talent, along with several seasoned troupers, that give some heart to the trite plot. The tap dancing is delightful, if slightly overdone. The choreography is quite traditional.
