Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Review by David Winkelstern
If you made plans for next weekend and they did not include a visit to Starlight Theater: Cancel them. Being anywhere else would mean you would miss the last chances to see their likeable world premiere of "A Crazy Little Thing Called Love."
Starlight's current lighthearted, lightweight play under the bright light of a "romantic" moon is a delight with some genuine highlights. "A Crazy Little Thing Called Love" has Saturday and Sunday night shows that will showcase a long list of talented local contributors; including the primary writer of this newsletter.
After seeing Jane Zussman’s performance last Saturday, the good news is my comments about her acting won’t risk my being removed from her list. I can honestly say Jane was a real scene-stealer who was a highpoint in both the New York and London scenes of the play that includes scenes in San Francisco, Dallas and Hawaii. Out of the 22 amusing actors (many who also played dual roles) who took the ever-changing stage, Jane earned some of the loudest laughs and played characters the audience would easily remember.
The entire cast (smoothly directed by Linda Granger) offered many memorable performances that maximized the humor in a script by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten that sometimes had minimal real belly laughs. “A Crazy Thing” also had occasional lines that were real gems that justified Starlight presenting a 6th play by the trio.
Better-than-average accents, sets, costumes, transitions, and sound helped make the fast-paced play a treat. Everyone in the cast provided comedic characters who always suited the first name of the play. Those who enjoy escapist silliness would be crazy to miss it.
Oct. 18 and 19 shows have dinner times at 6:30 in the Waverly East Intermediate cafeteria at 3131 W. Michigan Ave. with stage curtains opening at 7:30 pm. Ticket information is at (517) 243-6040. Advance reservations required for dinner.www.starlightdinnertheatre.com