One Broadway Show That Lives Up To It's Promises

I must confess something at the beginning of this review. And that is I was not to familiar with the play “Promises, Promises” before seeing it last week, aside from knowing only a basic outline of the plot. My main reason for wanting to see it lay not with the overall story or even the catchy songs. It had to do with the fact that the play stared Kristin Chenoweth, an actress I’ve longed to see on stage ever since hearing her amazing voice on the soundtrack to the play "Wicked". Thankfully I was not disappointed, as Miss. Chenoweth was an absolute delight, both singing wise and acting wise, in this play. Even more enjoyable was the fact that I loved the entire production. It was funny and left me with a big smile on my face by the time the house lights regrettably came back up.

The play stars Sean Hayes as Chuck Baxter, an imaginative and charmingly nervous bachelor who works for the Consolidated Life Insurance Company. He dreams of someday getting promoted and recognized for his hard work and winning the heart of Fran Kubelik (Chenoweth), a charming waitress he admires from a distance. When it is discovered that he has his own apartment business associates persuade him to let them use the apartment as a place for them to entertain women, always promising to recommend him for a promotion as a reward for his “generosity”. After a few months of this personal director J.D. Sheldrakes (Ken Land) informs Chuck that he knows about Chuck’s apartment shenanigans. But rather then report him he offers to make him a deal. If Chuck allows Sheldrakes to exclusively use the apartment to entertain his mistress then Chuck will be promoted in no time. Reluctantly he agrees to this arrangement. But Chuck’s already fragile world is truly turned upside down when he finds out that the woman Sheldrakes is having a affair with is non other then his beloved Fran.

The musical numbers are very entertaining, particularly the numbers “A House Is Not a Home” and "A Fact Can Be a Beautiful Thing". And the dancing was entertaining and fun. As for the actors they were stellar. I will say that the big surprise for me was Sean Hayes. His likability and stage presence was a delight to see. And while I had heard him sing occasionally on the show Will and Grace, here he’s shown he has an incredible range and can more then lead a show, which was proven with his recent Tony nomination. Hopefully this is just the first of a long and successful career on Broadway.

While I’ll admit I may be a little bias in saying this, I’ll say it anyway. And that is that Kristin Chenoweth was spectacular in her role and was robed for not receiving a Tony nomination. In addition to her powerhouse voice she was quick witted and empathetic. But the truest demonstration of her abilities occurred when her character was at her most vulnerable. It was during the second act when Sheldrakes gives her a hundred bucks for her “services”. In a true moment of desperation Fran strips down to her slip and painfully tries to live up to her role in Sheldrakes life, that of a high class call girl. The pain and rawness of that moment would cause an audience to either sympathize with the character, who is essentially the “other woman”, or feel disgusted by her actions. Chenoweth’s talent invoked the former desired effect and should have been recognized.

Though I will say I was not disappointed that another actress was recognized for her work in the show. In addition to Sean Hayes actress Katie Finneran was also nominated for a Tony. She played Marge, a bar fly Chuck meets in the second act when he goes to drown his sorrows over Fran. Her character flirts wildly with Chuck, constantly saying she’s not looking for casual sex while her body language and innuendo’s prove otherwise. She throws herself completely into the character, contorting her body as affectively as a drunken ballerina while pouring on the charm through a husky raspy voice. Though she was only on stage for about fifteen minutes she stole every moment she appeared in.

If one is looking to experience a Broadway show, “Promises, Promises” is the way to go. It’s one that will not disappoint.