Pace Press

Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Most musicals feature perfectly choreographed dance numbers and catchy songs that stick in your head for days after, but " Catered Affair" is not like most musicals. With a surprisingly short running time of 90 minutes, the play forgoes an intermission. It also omits the dance part of the usual "song-and-dance" musical, including dramatic scenes instead to contrast the lighter tunes.

Based on both the teleplay by Paddy Chayefsky and the film by Gore Vidal, the play was written by Harvey Fierstein and is directed by John Doyle. Although the play's Uncle Winston (Fierstein) provides comic relief that keeps it going, the musically inclined drama (or dramatic musical) fails to entertain.

The play begins in the Bronx in 1950s with a discussion between three neighborhood women sitting on their window ledges about Winston's niece and her boyfriend. Winston stands outside the apartment complex listening to the women before venturing inside.

The scene cuts to Winston's niece, Janey (Leslie Kritzer) and her boyfriend, Ralph (Matt Cavenaugh), who have just been warned by her uncle that her father is arriving home soon. The pair stands on one side of the stage while singing about deciding to get married at City Hall. On the opposite side, Janey's father, Tom (Tom Wopat) and his friend, Sam (Phillip Hoffman), sing about deciding to purchase a cab together.

In the next scene, Janey breaks the news to her parents of her decision to get married. Her mother, Aggie (Faith Prince), is shocked by the news. She always thought Janey would want a wedding in a church. Her father pays no attention to the news and Aggie scolds his apathy.

The audience soon learns that Aggie married quickly at City Hall like her daughter plans to do. She explains through the song, "Married" that she only agreed to wed Tom because of her pregnancy. She believes the two will never be in love.

Fierstein added the part of Janey's uncle specifically so he could be more involved with the play. He pops into scenes frequently with witty comebacks. His character, Winston, becomes upset when he finds he is not invited to his niece's wedding and sings "Immediate Family" about not being invited.

Ralph's family, the Hallorans, come over for dinner after the wedding has been discussed by Janey's family. Being a wealthier family, they insist that the couple have a real wedding, but it is not until Janey tries on a wedding dress, during the overly cutesy tune, "One White Dress," that a decision is reached.

Continued...

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