Bathhouse madness in 'The Ritz'

By Matt Windman

6:12 PM EDT, October 11, 2007

Kevin Chamberlin with Rosie Perez, Terrence Riordan and Brooks Ashmanskas in the revival of Terrence McNally's farce, 'The Ritz.' (Newsday/Ari Mintz)

It is no surprise that many theatergoers are scratching their heads over "The Ritz," wondering why Terrence McNally's manically silly farce has been tucked away in obscurity since its Broadway premiere in 1975. Even its 1976 film version is out of print, though that will finally be released on DVD in January.

For starters, except for a handful of Neil Simon revivals, light (non-musical) comedies are hardly ever performed on Broadway anymore. Even "The Little Dog Laughed," which had received rave reviews Off-Broadway, could not survive the jump to the Great White Way.

But there is a far bigger reason to explain its disappearance. It takes place in what was considered in 1975 to be the most improbable place to find a straight guy hiding from his Italian mobster brother-in-law: a Manhattan gay bathhouse, complete with a weight room, steam room and Rosie Perez nightclub. As McNally himself has admitted, it would have been extremely awkward to revive "The Ritz" at the height of New York's AIDS crisis.

In Joe Mantello's thoroughly enjoyable revival, one of the best ensemble casts on Broadway would appear to be having a ball as they run up and down a three-story funhouse/bathhouse set.

Hidden among Kevin Chamberlin, Rosie Perez, Patrick Kerr and Brooks Ashmanskas is Seth Rudetsky, the musical theater maven known for his radio shows and benefit concerts. In the production's funniest moment, Rudetsky performs a one-man version of "Magic To Do" from "Pippin," with dozens of Fosse jazz hands sticking out of his costume.

"The Ritz" provides a low art bookend to the high art of Shaw's "Pygmalion," Roundabout's other fall production. And it would appear that Studio 54, the haven of 70s sex drive, is an ideal setting to perform a show known best for its emphasis on half-naked male bodies.

Studio 54, 254 West 54th St, 212-719-1300, $36.25-96.25. Tues 8pm, Wed 2 & 8pm, Thurs-Fri 8pm, Sat 2 & 8pm, Sun 2pm. Thru Dec 2.