If you were to ask me to think of the golden age of musicals, a few things would come to my mind. Things like Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, flashy costumes, and dazzling dance numbers are just to name a few. While the storylines are simple and charming, the star talent is where these shows shine. These productions are created to display in full force the acting, dancing, and singing abilities of the actors. The actors often have a sort of raw talent to them. And when looking at raw talent, 42ND STREET is in no short supply.
Based in the 1930s, 42ND STREET takes you backstage to the rehearsal of a Broadway show happening during the height of the Great Depression. Broadway newcomer Peggy Sawyer joins the production of the newest show, “Pretty Lady”, with stars in her eyes. As time goes on, she finds out Broadway might not be all that she dreamed of, but hard work helps her preserve through.
If you are a dance lover, then this show will dance its way right into your heart. There were more tap numbers in this show than I believe I have ever seen in my life, and they were all spectacular sights. I can’t imagine how many hours it took to learn every number, but it is very clear that each dancer puts their heart and soul into the dance to make each number more captivating than the last. Halli Toland puts her best foot forward as Peggy Sawyer as she taps her way into your heart with her impressive dance skills and her bright and rich singing.
The costumes in this production also brought me back to that “golden age” feel. The show has a wide range of costumes and costume changes that left me wowed. Many of the costumes were intricate and flashy, showing off the glamour of show business. There are also a wide range of “normal” looking clothes that would be similar to what we would see in the 1930s, however, the pieces are still very beautiful and play an important role in making you feel like you are in 1930s watching everything take place. It also gives a great parallel of the realities of the Great Depression compared to the fantasies and escapism used in productions.
42ND STREET is a charming and fun production that will have you dancing all the way back home. You can catch the production now through June 16 at the UC Davis Health Pavilion. Learn more here.
English
Chinese (Simplified)
Filipino
French
German
Hmong
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Vietnamese
