Weekend Review: ‘Drowsy’ show at TMP is no snoozer

Good scripts only carry a performance so far. Sets can only do so much as well. Plays live or die at the hands and voices of the actors who bring those script pages to their stages.

“Drowsy Chaperone” at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, is no different. If the actors aren’t having fun, the show suffers. And that is not the case with this show. They looked on Friday like they were having a blast and would likely have their smiles even if no one sat in the seats in front of them.

This comedic show within a show has all the classics of a good spoof, stereotyped characters, audience interactions beyond the fourth wall between actors and audiences, inside jokes and growner inside jokes. It tops off with snappy tunes and vivid choreography.

This regional premiere is just plain funny family entertainment.

TMP Artistic Director Jon Douglas Rake plays the “Man in the Chair,” a guy in a New York City who plunks down a record of his favorite musical only to see it play out in his living room. And yes, there is a place in the show where the record skips and the actors do their thing over and over until the needle clears a lint groove. Hilarious. Rake’s deadpan delivery of one liners are what good standup comics are made of. But he is not alone.

Nancy Hebert is Sigourney Weaver-like in her gestures and timing, allah Ghostbusters, in her role as the chaperone to a bride-to-be. Lark Orvick Moore rocks the role of Mrs. Tottendale. Sheri Tipton does likewise in her ditzy blonde role of a showgirl with connections. I can see why she would list the role of Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls” as one of her favorite roles. She is an actor who brings everything to the stage — voice, dance, acting and presence. I have seen her in a gazillion roles, from comedy to drama, and she has delivered wows each time. But tops on the list was John B. Cooper as the man-about-town, wanna-be heart throb Aldopho.

Feel-good theater is alive and well and on stage at TMP. The show runs at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays through Feb. 13. Shows often sell out so planning and reservations are suggested.