Abbey Alder, Lourelene Snedeker and Patrece Bloomfield provide a triple Dolly Levi in Jerry’s Girls at the new Pompano Players / Photo by Amy Pasquantonio
By Mariah Reed
Pompano Beach has transformed from a sleepy beach-side hamlet sandwiched between Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale into a vibrant city replete with theater, music festivals, and award-winning restaurants featuring a variety of ethnic foods and elegant fare. One note-worthy addition is the Pompano Players, a plucky new theater group featuring fun, lighthearted productions for a community deeply appreciative of such cultural offerings. Their latest presentation is Jerry’s Girls, a charming musical revue that is sure to tickle your funny bone and warm your heart.
Jerry’s Girls was first presented in 1981 at a nightclub in Manhattan as a cabaret-style review featuring Jerry Herman’s greatest Broadway hits. Four actresses and Herman himself performed songs from three of his most celebrated musicals: Hello, Dolly!, Mack and Mabel, and Mame. Three years later the review was expanded to include an all-female chorus, premiering at the Royal Poinciana Playhouse in Palm Beach with Carol Channing, Andrea McArdle, and Leslie Uggams in featured roles.
In 1985 the show moved to Broadway featuring Dorothy Loudon, Chita Rivera and Leslie Uggams. A well-received production, it garnered a Tony nomination for Rivera.
The Pompano Players presentation showcases a bevy of local talent, including the irrepressible Lourelene Snedeker, elegant and regal Patrece Bloomfield, and charming Abbey Alder as the three main solo vocalists. Cassidy Joseph, Caroline Macchiarola, Jacqueline Rose, Alexandra Van Hasselt and Lauren Wickerson make up the versatile and enthusiastic chorus who prove as talented in their vocal abilities as they do in their graceful, nimble dancing.
Under Musical Director David Nagy’s expert guidance, harmonies are perfectly sublime and the band sharp and lively. Jason Arkins on Reed, Michael Hankins on Trumpet, Jason Pyle on Trombone, Rupert Ziawinski on Bass, Nick Trotogott on Drums and, of course, Nagy himself on Piano all display musical mastery of their instruments and work together to support the vocalists with expert attention to the dynamics required for each moment to resonate fully.
Director Michael Ursua has assembled a delightful ensemble who do an admirable job of honoring the considerable talents of Jerry Herman. Ursua’s staging works well within the very minimal set and his direction keeps things moving at a steady pace. Choreographer Alex Jorth creates enchanting choreography that gives welcome variety to the evening of torch songs and occasional comic warbling.
But Penelope Williams’ costumes are absolutely outstanding. It’s not a surprise that Williams earned 10 Carbonell nominations for her work while employed at the beloved, but now defunct, Caldwell Theatre in Boca Raton. Beautifully evoking the period and genre of each musical represented, the colorful and flattering costumes transport us to imagined worlds in which these musicals so ably communicate each character’s plight or joy. Kudos to whoever helped with the breathtakingly swift costume changes. Honestly, this show has more costume changes than a Cher concert, and that is a good thing. Dazzling the audience and providing much needed ambiance for each song, these outfits compensate for spotty scenic elements that make the production feel unfinished.
One wishes that scenic designer Claudia Smith had considered giving the company more to work with in terms of environment. The large, blank cyclorama at the back wall of the stage is glaringly dull and overshadows intimate moments that also suffer from inadequate lighting. One wonders why projections are not utilized more often, as they enhance the visual elements of the presentation enormously. They are also an inexpensive way to flesh out an environment and give context to scenes.
Projections can also help with illumination challenges. Many songs are performed in very dim lighting, sometimes delayed for the first few moments, forcing actors to begin singing in the dark. Additionally, microphones were often muted for the first few notes of songs, frustrating a mostly senior audience who were anxious to hear the actors articulate Herman’s brilliant lyrics.
However, when amplification was working properly, one could rejoice in gorgeous, mellifluous harmonies. Abbey Alder’s pure, clear and heartfelt mezzo soprano and the deep and sultry strains of Patrece Bloomfield’s expert song styling are entrancing. Lourelene Sneideker’s comic timing is on point, evoking raucous laughter from the audience as well as rousing applause at the end of each song. When an unsteady and hunched Sneideker performs the side-splitting “Take It All Off,” complete with an uproarious costume featuring drooping bird seed bags as elderly breasts, the audience delights at her hilarious delivery, guffawing and tittering as she sings “Two trampolines would make me a good brassiere.”
Patrece Bloomfield’s heart-rending rendition of “If He Walked into My Life” evokes goosebumps of pleasure despite the ultra-dim spotlight that makes it difficult to see her. The consummate professional, Bloomfield still manages to stop the show with her heartfelt interpretation, motivating an admiring audience to stand and cheer in appreciation.
Act 2 of the show begins with a medley of movie songs penned by Herman. With her powerful Broadway belt and inspired ability to bring a variety of characters to life, Adler so embodies Mabel Norman of Herman’s musical hit Mack and Mabel that one can’t help but wish the Pompano Players would mount that production with her in the title role. Another highlight of the production is Snedeker’s tender and vulnerable rendition of “Before the Parade Passes By,” which elicits tears with its honest and heartfelt sentiment.
Technical challenges notwithstanding, the Pompano Players delivers another enjoyable production featuring some of the best talent in South Florida. For those looking for entertainment that is light, fun and heartfelt, Jerry’s Girls does not disappoint.
This is the second show this reviewer has seen in the Pompano Beach Cultural Arts Center and these lighting and sound issues were present for both productions. If the facility is challenged technically, perhaps funds may be acquired to add to the lighting inventory and sound reinforcement. Any theater lovers out there willing to step in and support your local theater in this way? There are precious few spaces local theater companies can afford to rent in which to present their works. One hopes that a generous benefactor or two may step forward to support 6the talented and dedicated local theater artists who continue to give their best despite the challenges.
Jerry’s Girls will run through January 19 at Pompano Beach Cultural Center. The theatre is located at 50 West Atlantic Boulevard, in Pompano Beach (33060) Tickets for range in price from $45 to $65. Tickets may be purchased online at https://pompanobeachculturalcenter.com or by calling 954-501-1910.
Mariah Reed is an Equity actress, produced playwright and tenured theater professor.