Cagney

Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre

 

I’m so happy they made a musical about Jimmy Cagney. While he was just a smidge before my time, he was a real phenomenon and his classic movies are part of American history.  Part tough guy, part song and dance man,  we all loved this Yankee Doodle Dandy.

The story begins and ends at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards 1974 where Jack Warner (Bruce Sabath) is to present Jimmy (Robert Creighton) with the Lifetime Achievement Award.   There are intermittent flash backs that piece together the abbreviated story of Cagney’s life.  This is not exactly biographical, but the big picture comes shining through in this story by Peter Colley with direction by Bill Castellino.

James Cagney grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.  In this portrayal he  was the man of the house and with his father absent, he supported his ‘Ma’ and a brother who was attending college.  Jobs were hard to come by in a time of little pay no worker’s rights.  Jimmy did not like to see people mistreated and he was outspoken on this front.  This and his Irish temper would cost him his job.    He had the fists of a fighter but a heart of gold.   Jimmy’s mother would not hear of   him boxing for a living, so they scoured the want ads.   When they came across an ad for a dancer in a music hall, it was decided.  It turns out that Jimmy had many talents, and had a real knack for dance and a perfect peabody.  He auditions at the West 81st Street Theatre, and a star is born.  From here we are taken on a journey from dance hall to  Broadway and finally Hollywood where he made his legendary mark and more than 50 films.

So even if it didn’t happen exactly that way in real life, we’ve all seen the movie.  The truth is that Jimmy falls in love and marries a gal he meets in the chorus. His political activities and advocacy for the underdog led to accusations of his being a communist sympathizer, which were later dismissed. He joined the USO and performed for troops in the US and abroad along with Bob Hope and others.  His relationship with Warner Brothers was disagreeable and he and Jack Warner were at odds more than not.  Last but not least, Cagney became an icon in the film industry, through his acting, singing and dancing and his legend will live on forever.

The real charm of this musical is the singing and dancing and Robert Creighton dishes it up like nobody’s business in star spangled style.  There are over the top tap numbers, and you would expect no less from choreographer Joshua Bergasse.   The costumes by Martha Bromelmeier are stunning, and while Creighton is clearly in charge at all times,  the ensemble cast glow in their multiple character roles.

This is a light hearted, charming, and witty all American treat that you will not want to miss.  For tickets and more information visit http://www.cagneythemusical.com/ and check my website for available discounts here. -ThisbroadSway 4/27/16.

 
Here are some interesting facts about Jimmy Cagney that you might not have known: