With names like Marvin Hamlisch writing the music, book and lyrics by Rupert Holmes and being directed by the legend who made the movie version famous, Jerry Lewis, it’s bound to go somewhere close to Broadway.
It had all the trappings of a Broadway Musical, with the great music, the sensational choreography, beautiful sets and pretty cool special effects, BUT the leading man, Michael Andrew in the Jerry Lewis role, fell a bit off the mark for me.
Andrew has been performing his impersonation of Jerry Lewis for years and I’m sure Mr. Lewis wanted him to play “him” in the musical. Andrew did a very good job of impersonating “Jerry Lewis” as the Nutty Professor but he didn’t command the stage like I thought he should.
He was upstaged multiple times by the multi-talented Marissa McGowan, who played Stella Purdy and the scene-stealing Klea Blackhurst as Miss Lemon. Blackhurst’s “Step Out of Your Shell” number brought the house down with the loudest and longest applause of the evening.
Don’t get me wrong, Michael Andrew does a superb job of the transitions between nerdy professor and “Buddy Love”, with the extra task of singing in both voices, but his stage presence and movement didn’t quite match the swagger that Jerry Lewis pulled off in the movie.
But don’t let that stop you from going to see it. It’s a wonderful evening of theatre with music, singing, dancing and laughter. Everything the theatre is meant to provide.
“The Nutty Professor” plays now through August 19. For ticket information go to TPAC.ORG/SHOWS or call 615-782-4040.
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