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Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • October 16, 2013
Paper Mill
(continued from Entertainment page)
songs with just the right touch of wistfulness and whimsy.
A song that begins as a sad homage to his late wife -- “Out
of the Sun” -- turns into a quietly hilarious send-up of the
pastime that ultimately did her in. In a second-act duet with
his right-hand man, Johnny Sandwich (Matthew Saldi-
var), Tommy performs a sweet soft shoe -- no threat to the
memory of Fred Astaire, but an adroit use of yet another
of the actor’s talents. Danza fits the role perfectly and pre-
vents the character from falling into cliché or becoming
too harsh. He is the perfect musical comedy thug.
O’Malley, who conjures memories of the young Mary
Tyler Moore, is part of a long line of Broadway musical
and movie leading ladies who wait for years hoping for
a marriage proposal. Adelaide from “Guys and Dolls”
comes immediately to mind, but the character of Betsy
is written as considerably more cultivated, though no less
impatient. There are amusing supporting performances by Cath-
erine Ricafort as Mahi, a Hawaiian femme fatale hired
by Tommy to “distract” Jack, and David Josefsberg, who
is hysterical as both a Vegas lounge singer -- a satirical
melange of Paul Anka, Robert Goulet, and Tom Jones --
and an Elvis Presley tribute impersonator.
The show benefits from a fine score and lyrics by
Jason Robert Brown. Act I especially is as strong as any
Broadway hit musical. The lyrics are consistently sharp
and witty, with complicated internal rhymes and contem-
porary references. To the credit of all the principals, the
lyrics are crisply delivered.
There are plot similarities to the aforementioned “Guys
and Dolls” and “Damn Yankees,” but “Honeymoon in
Vegas” succeeds on its own merits. Director Gary Griffin
has given the show a brisk pace and elicited energetic per-
formances from the cast, and Denis Jones’ choreography
gives the show added sparkle.
“Honeymoon in Vegas,” running now through Oct. 27,
will be performed Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m.,
Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 7 p.m., with
matinees at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Tickets are $27 to $98 and may be purchased by calling
(973) 376-4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse box office at
22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.paper-
mill.org.