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Say Yes, Yes to 'Nanette'

By Matt Windman

2:19 PM EDT, May 12, 2008

Mara Davi is Nanette, here in Atlantic City scene, in "No, No, Nanette" an Encores! concert revival of the tap dancing musical comedy which had its Broadway premiere in 1925. (Ari Mintz/Newsday)

Walter Bobbie's peppy, perky, almost perfect revival of the 1925 musical comedy "No, No, Nanette" is cooking up a heavenly amount of tap-happy jazz-age fun at City Center. Whereas most Encores productions play only for a single weekend, there is one final performance of "Nanette" on Monday night. Though rumors are spreading that it might transfer to Broadway, we advise you not to wait on that chance.

With some of the most hummable show tunes ever written, like "Tea for Two" and "I Want to be Happy", the 1971 revival version of "No, No, Nanette" started the nostalgia craze on Broadway. Jubilant, refreshing and campy, it tells the story of bible publisher Jimmy Smith, his lawyer Billy Early, their wives, and the trouble they all get into one madcap summer weekend in Atlantic City.

All its farcical mix-ups that ensue are mainly meant to provide a vehicle for its song-and-dance showstoppers. Randy Skinner's tap-dance, soft-shoe and Charleston choreography is so detailed that a few pratfalls occurred at our performance, but nothing to quibble about. Also keep in mind that "Nanette," like all Encores productions, received a very short rehearsal period.

Joining its large bevy of cute chorines is one of the most impressive principal casts ever assembled together for an Encores show: Rosie O'Donnell, Sandy Duncan, Beth Leavel, Michael Berresse, Charles Kimbrough, Mara Davi, Jen Cody and Nancy Anderson. And they all dance. Even Rosie. And at curtain call, they all play ukuleles.

But dancing and light comedy aside, the biggest thrill of "Nanette" must be the return of Rob Fisher, Encores' first musical theater, to conduct Ralph Burns' incredible orchestrations.

Eighty years from now, will anyone still be listening to the scores of "In the Heights" or "Passing Strange"? We think not. Yet most of the audience now at "Nanette" is ready to sing along to "We Want to Be Happy" on cue. Quite honestly, we can't think of any other musical this season that made us feel so giddily, carelessly, non-cynically happy.

City Center, 130 West 55th St, 212-581-1212, $25-95. Mon 8pm.