Wonderfully Corny

Wonderful Town, Al Hirschfeld Theatre This revival of the '53 musical more than makes up for the thin book and no hit songs with its simple exuberance and wit. While this may be second-rate Comden and Green and Bernstein, obviously that makes it first-rate Broadway. The simple story concerns two sisters coming to New York and trying to make it in the Big Apple. One is a struggle singer, the other yearns to be a writer. Naturally -- it being the '50s -- each really wants to find love with the man of their dreams. The show I saw had understudy Linda Mugleston perform Donna Murphy's starring role as the would be reporter. To rephrase the criticism of the show, a Broadway understudy would be a star anywhere else. Mugleston acted and sang as if she had originated the role, with plenty of spark and (seemingly) personalized moments. One note: all the cops, played by a talented and diverse ensemble, were stereotypically Irish. During their lullaby to the other sister, a bombshell who had all the male characters wrapped around her finger, the cop chorus even broke into Riverdance-esque line dancing. All in good fun, and enjoyed by the whole audience. But if some other stereotype had been picked, there would be hell to pay....