How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Review

Strong ensemble helps Ann Arbor Civic Theater make a success out of "Business"

By: Roger LeLievre
Freelance Entertainment Writer

Posted: Jun 11, 2010 at 12:53 AM [Jun 11, 2010]

Ann Arbor Civic Theatre’s production of the early 1960s musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” manages to make a success of itself in spite of its shortcomings.

The 3-hour show got off to a shaky start Thursday night in Lydia Mendelssohn Theater (the orchestra was wincingly off key in spots, the amplification made voices sound tinny and one key role seemed completely miscast), but the hard-working ensemble managed to rally by the second half and really hit its stride with the near-showstopping number “Brotherhood of Man.”

“Business” follows the rapid rise of window-washer J. Pierrepont Finch (Civic stalwart Anthony J. Provenzola) who, by using tips from a book called “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” plots his rise from the mailroom to the executive offices of the World Wide Wicket Company.

The casting problem concerns Provenzola, who has a beautiful singing voice, plenty of talent and a Cheshire cat grin that’s instantly likable. However, the role is written for someone in his 20s, and Provenzola has matured beyond those parts. There were a couple of others in the cast, in particular Ellington Berg or Charlie Rhodes, who I thought may have been a better fit age-wise. Still, I loved his song-and-dance number, “Company Way,” which Provenzola performed superbly with the equally able Jeff Steinhauer. Provenzola was also terrific in “I Believe in You,” radiating so much self-confidence I found myself rooting for him. For me, this was a turning point in the show.

The script is problematic in its treatment of women, to the extent that director Andy Ballink addressed it in the program notes (and the show deals with it in the number “A Secretary is Not a Toy”). Ballink’s solution was to make the set more cartoonish in order to poke fun at “outdated and obsolete attitudes … turning them upside down.” I understood that the show is a product of its time and so had no issues with its view of women; however, I enjoyed the cardboard cutout typewriters, pencils, out-sized phones and such. Ballink also worked to play up who really ran the offices of the era — the women — which also helped to modernize the show’s feel.

Alexandria Watson was great as Rosemary, the secretary in love with Finch but frustrated at his cluelessness. She (and Sue Booth, Maggie Williams, Linzi Joy Bokor and others) offered a knockout version of “Paris Original,” the song in which several women lament in song showing up to a party wearing the same gown. Kimberly Elliott was note-perfect in her portrayal of sexy Hedy LaRue, who wrangles a secretarial job at World Wide Wicket despite her utter lack of qualifications just because she is the philandering CEO’s (Rob Roy) mistress.

Charlie Rhodes was excellent in his portrayal of Finch’s nemesis Bud Frump. He was twitchy, endearingly nerdy, and I couldn’t help but sympathize with him as he failed in every effort to torpedo Finch’s rise. Also memorable were Edmond Reynolds’ role as chairman of the board Wally Womper, David Rowe as an over-the-top parody of a 1960s TV announcer and the smoothly-performed Pirate Dance in the second act.

By the way, tapping Ann Arbor radio personality Martin Bandyke to provide the (prerecorded) “book voice” was a wonderful local touch (Walter Cronkite’s voice was used similarly in a Broadway revival a few years back).

In an era when TV’s “Mad Men,” itself a 1960s corporate culture spoof, is a huge hit, it appears interest in this kind of satire is strong right now. It’s the perfect time to revive “Business,” and a smart movie on the part of Ann Arbor Civic. Fortunately, I don't think lampooning office and corporate culture will ever really go out of style.

"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" continues 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Lydia Mendelssohn Theater, 911 North University Avenue. Tickets are $20 ($18 for seniors, $12 for students). For more information, call 734-971-2228 or visit the A2CT website.

Roger LeLievre is a free-lance writer for AnnArbor.com.