What if somebody assembled a considerable array of musical theatre talents, costumed them with wit and style (Elizabeth Huffman), threw in a fair amount of elegant choreography (Kay Cole), and then stuck them in an unforgiving space? It would look like this production. The direction (Jules Aaron) almost transcends the location: a set (Kis Knekt) that effectively conveys the confinement implied by the title, primarily on a riverboat scudding down the Amazon, but realized in an oddly somber palette for a musical caper-one that explores hues primarily found in algae. The lighting is spotty (J. Kent Inasy) and surprisingly dark for such a lightweight romp (book by LeeAn and Jeff Lantos, lyrics by Jeff Lantos, music by Bill Augustine). And then there's the theatre itself, which borders on the anechoic.
That said, the sparkle and chemistry of the leads, Heidi Godt and Tom Schmid, are too bright to be diminished by mere trappings. Godt plays the part of Natalie, a doctor left at the altar by her tycoon fiancé Dirk (Gary Franco, taking the cardboard-character thing a bit far) who is called away on business and promises to meet her in Rio for a proper wedding. While shipboard, she meets the widower lepidopterist Harvey (Schmid) when their shared surname leads to being assigned shared quarters. Jewel thievery and Peruvian Federales (Amanda Adams, Mike Irizarry, Paul Peglar, and Mike Uribes) singing in tight, sweet harmony follow in due course.
Godt enchants with her easy manner and powerhouse voice and looks great in the bargain. Schmid nicely navigates playing father to two precocious children, adroitly performed by Rachel Hirschfeld and Sterling Beaumon, as well as the duties of being the nerdy but hot romantic interest. The trio of jewel thieves, portrayed by Ali Spuck, Benjamin Sprunger, and Rick Stockwell, lends comic support. The curvaceous Spuck is a delight as a lisping former Miss Uruguay, while Sprunger and Stockwell excel in buffoonery. The three use about 27 accents-one each for Sprunger and Spuck, Stockwell combining the rest into a comic amalgam. Eddie Driscoll nails the never-left-Woodstock character of the ship's captain, a part that seems oddly superfluous. Tom Franco, Deb Snyder, Tanya Chisholm, and Carol Crittenden complete the solid cast, all of whom deserve a cabin upgrade.
"Tight Quarters," presented by Genga Productions at the Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Thu.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. Sep. 16-Oct. 30. $17-25. (323) 960-4410.