Jubilation and cornpone mesh surprisingly well in Reprise! Broadway Best's smashing revisit to this 1956 Broadway hit. Director Michael Michetti, music director Darryl Archibald, and choreographer Lee Martino quickly allay our fears that this pre-Sondheim relic from a quainter musical-theatre era will be passé. From the first strains of the exhilarating overture to the roof-raisin' "Matrimonial Stomp," prodigious talent in every department -- direction, design, performing, and musicianship -- yields one of the most unabashedly old-fashioned celebrations of golden-age Broadway in Reprise's 11-year-history.
Based on Al Capp's long-running comic strip (1934-77), Norman Panama and Melvin Frank's goofy book is set in rural Dogpatch, focusing on the would-be love affair between bodacious backwoods babe Daisy Mae (Brandi Burkhardt) and commitment-phobic hunk Abner (Eric Martsolf). Complicating matters are the government's plans to drive the country folks out so it can turn the area into an atomic test site, plus the scheming of General Bullmoose (Fred Willard) to capitalize on the homegrown elixir that Mammy Yokum (Cathy Rigby) devised to beef up her strapping son Abner.
The buoyant score by Gene De Paul (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics) is a buried treasure that bounces to life through the stellar efforts of Archibald and his terrific onstage orchestra, Martino and her scintillating production numbers, and the skilled ensemble. As the romantic leads, Martsolf and Burkhardt exude charm and polish, at their best in the lilting duet "Namely You." Rigby is spirited, embellishing the role with her dazzling acrobatic antics. Michael Kostroff, a sublime song-and-dance man, brings character-actor moxie to the likable Marryin' Sam. John Ganun is hilarious as the hulky oaf Earthquake McGoon. Also in peak form are Larry Cedar as the mad scientist Dr. Finsdale and Willard as the villainous general.
Splendid designs add to the show's sheen: Bradley Kaye's colorful cartoon sets, Thomas G. Marquez's eye-popping costumes, and finely textured lighting by Tom and Donna Ruzika. Under new artistic director Jason Alexander, there's been much talk of Reprise reinventing old musicals, an objective that was evident in last fall's staging of Damn Yankees. Michetti's triumphant re-creation of Li'l Abner proves that for certain vintage musicals, a traditional TLC treatment with the right assemblage of talent can reap rich rewards while duly honoring a cherished heritage.
Presented by Reprise! Broadway's Best at the UCLA Freud Playhouse,
Sunset at Hilgard, Westwood.
Tue.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., Sun. 2 & 7 p.m. Feb. 6-17.
(310) 825-2101. www.reprise.org.