OC Weekly By: John Roos
It's easy to fall prey to kitschy, cute trappings in nostalgia-themed theatrical
productions. And I did. It was no use fighting it. By evenings end, I had
succumbed to Musical Theatre West's Swing!, a joyous performance that resonated
with a stylish sense of renewal. Digging the beat-crazy music of the '30s
and '40s - the timeless, big band jazz of Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Duke
Ellington, Louis Jordan etc. - helps to fully appreciate Swing! That era's
freewheeling spirit was effectively captured by Darrel & the Hot Notes, the
musical's eight-piece swing band that played both standards and some originals.
Equally impressive is Lynn Taylor Corbett's choreography. Her nimble dancers
bring to life the era's wonderfully exhausting Lindy and Jitterbug - you know,
dances with spins and twirls where partners had to actually touch each other.
Imagine. While Swing! qualifies as standard family night on the town, it also
reaches greater heights than most mainstream entertainment by being sweet,
soulful and steamy. Championing these ingredients is singer/dancer Rachel
Lynn Oliver, a former Miss Black America whose dynamic stage presence was
electrifying, particularly during the sultry "Blip Blip" and more reflective
"I'll Be Seeing You." My only complaint is that the production, which features
30 dance numbers spanning nearly two hours, uses no story line or theme to
make a statement or transition between the segments. That said, Swing! -which
garnered six 2000 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical - nevertheless
offers a winning glimpse into what makes swing such and enduring American
art form.
