HOW TO SUCCEED SUCCEEDS AND HOW!
Reams can and have been written about the glories of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock & Willie Gilbert, the 1961 musical satire that landed virtually unanimous raves would go on to run for over three years (1,417 performances).
It has been one of my favorite musicals for many years so I certainly wondered how it would fare on Revolution Stage Company’s (RSC) relatively small stage. The show revolves around a young character named J. Pierpont Finch. Robert Morse, Matthew Broderick and Daniel Radcliff have played the character on Broadway and all of them are relatively petit so I assigned that attribute to the character. I was therefore surprised when I saw a six-footer as Finch. That surprise lasted only moments. As soon as Nathan Wilson showed his face as Finch, I realized there was no basis for my former belief, and when I heard him sing better than any of the three Broadway stars listed above, my hat was definitely off to Mr. Wilson.
I also worried that a smaller cast would somehow make the musical numbers less interesting. Again, an incorrect assumption. Five businessmen and four secretaries were absolutely the right number for the size of the stage. Robert Johnson‘s clever direction (and a few added wigs, etc.) made the office seem full and busy.
The story: Ambitious window washer J. Pierrepont Finch happens upon a book that offers instructions on the quickest way up the corporate ladder to success. Following the book’s instructions, Finch quickly lands a job in the mailroom of the World Wide Wicket Company. With the help of his handy book, Finch quickly gains promotions and outsmart his rivals. A faithful practitioner of Shepherd Mead’s real-life same-titled 1952 manual, Finch quickly works his way from the mail room to junior executive to vice-president until, proving the Peter Principle, he reaches his level of incompetence: chairman of the board.
As soon as he enters the office, Finch attracts the eye of secretary Rosemary Pilkington (Nicole Kennedy) who is immediately smitten by him. She starts to plot their marriage before she even knows his name. Her sidekick secretary Smitty (Barbara Kerr) helps her with her quest and earns plenty of laughs as she does so.
In the hands of Scott Kenison, the president of the company J. B. Biggley is not the cartoon buffoon that most Biggleys are. Kenison looks so businesslike that he could actually run a company, but that makes his eccentricities even funnier as, one-by-one, they get revealed.
The most brilliant piece of casting is Billy L’Amour as a statuesque and very buxom bombshell named Hedy La Rue. She’s gorgeous, she’s curvy and she’s a drag queen but by golly she acts the hell out of the character and even sings terrifically. Every guy in the office wants her but she’s a “close friend” of Mr. Biggley, the president, and anyone who makes a play suddenly gets transferred to Venezuela.
Other notable performances: Joe Grimalva as the Head of the Mailroom and Jenne Carey as the boss’s cranky secretary–she is very young to play the role but in the final number when she finally sings, we learn very well why she was cast! Rob “Rocket” Arnegard is Bud Frump, a nebbish who uses the fact that he’s the president’s nephew to elbow his way into everything; his performance was so great that I forgot about that Bozo-red wig of his.
A few awkward stops on opening night, but I still give top marks to Johnson and Music Director Kurt Jordan , whose cast sound great singing to pre-recorded tracks. No choreographer is listed but leading man Nathan Wilson choreographed Company earlier this season, but it’s a mystery (if it is Wilson, I can understand not wanting to be the lead in a show and also listed as the choreographer).
This is indeed a happy show. A likeable man has a goal of being successful in business and we’re with him every step of the way as he schemes his way to the top. The many terrific songs are easy on the ears (though being written in the 60s, prepare for many reprises), and it stresses the “comedy” in “musical comedy.” It’s a varying performance schedule, so check the calendar. This show is worth it.
photos courtesy of Revolution Stage Company
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Revolution Stage Company
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs
ends on March 29, 2025
for tickets, visit Revolution
