Michigan Daily Review
Published January 15, 2002
'Smile' takes on beauty pageants
By Jim Schiff, Daily Arts Writer
January 15, 2003
Beauty pageants have always been one of Hollywood's favorite targets. Films such as
"Miss Congeniality" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous" poke fun of the big hair,
big teeth and even bigger smiles. It comes as no surprise, then, that musical theater
offers its own take on the subject. The Ann Arbor Civic Theatre's production of
"Smile" this past weekend had all the glitz and glamour of pageant films, with
an added dose of song and a huge helping of heart.
"Smile" tells the tale of the 2003 Young American Miss pageant, a fictional
contest taking place in Santa Rosa, California. Sixteen incoming high-school seniors from
all over the state convene in a hotel, and immediately begin perfecting their talents,
their dancing and, most of all, their widened grins. Couple Brenda DiCarlo (Elise Stempky)
and Big Bob Freelander (David Andrews), the pageant's organizers, try to keep everything
running smoothly, while hoping to please the show's ticket holders and sponsors.
As with all pageants, things go awry, and "Smile" certainly has its share of
bloopers. Flamboyant dance instructor Tommy French, played to a hilt by Kevin Gill,
insists on having a runway on the pageant stage, while some of the girls, upset over a
Mexican contestant who can whip up a mean batch of guacamole dip, try to sabotage her
chances of winning. And beyond the expected bickering and gossip among the contestants,
there are a few girls who doubt their ability to triumph, such as girl-next-door Robin
Gibson (Kristina Thompson) and perky blonde Doria Hudson (Kristin Ritter).
While not as sophisticated as, say, "West Side Story," "Smile" is
nonetheless a tricky musical to perform: The dancing numbers, such as "Shine"
and "Y.A.M.," require a great deal of precision and synchronicity. Thankfully,
the A2CT cast was more than up to the challenge, anchored by the highly-talented chorus of
contestants. The girls were not only in-step, but they also allowed their characters to
shine through. In particular, Lorna Colon as Maria Gonzales hit all the right notes;
striking a balance between saccharine and cunning, she crafted an endearing, if maybe a
tad naïve, pageant princess.
The lead roles, though a little underdeveloped, were also handled well. Andrews, as Big
Bob Freelander, brings an aw-shucks quality to his well-intentioned character, while
Stempky steals every scene she's in as Bob's wife. Coming to grips with her own pageant
disappointment 20 years prior, she finally lets out her frustration on her coworkers, and
the result is both funny and a little scary.
Ritter also strikes gold as one of the more prominent contestants, showing off her
considerable vocal talent on songs such as "Disneyland."
Despite fine performances all-around, the real stars of this production were the costumes
and the lighting. Kudos to designer Susan Pearlman for creating innovative and colorful
outfits that were flattering without going over-the-top. Similarly, the gold-lit backdrop
towards the end of the second act was truly a sight to behold; one could easily see such a
spectacle at a real beauty pageant.
With "Smile," director and choreographer Ron Baumanis truly outdid himself. He
assembled a fine cast, which beautifully brought to life a story that's been told a
thousand times. A2CT productions, always of high quality, have never been quite this
seamless. After viewing a performance like this, one couldn't help but, well, smile.