Theater Review—

‘Cole Porter Celebration’ Is Delightful

(And De-Lovely) In Westport

By Julie Stern

WESTPORT — Most of what Americans believe about love, we learned from the songs of Cole Porter. Think about it: “I Get a Kick out of You,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “You Do Something to Me,” “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To,” “Night and Day,” “(It was) Just One of Those Things…”

In a tribute to the creative genius who, as an undergraduate, wrote the Yale football song (When the sons of Eli break through that line, that is the time to yell- Bulldog, Bulldog, Bow Wow Wow-  E-LI YALE!) along with some 300 other songs before he graduated,  Westport Country Playhouse is presenting a Hot ‘n Cole: A Cole Porter Celebration.

On a stage made up to represent a fashionable Manhattan cocktail party, six charming and talented actors drift in and out, performing a total of 45 of the master’s best known musical numbers, beginning with “Anything Goes” and closing with “You’re the Top.”

Most of these are done with the backing of two grand pianos placed back to back (it’s a lavish apartment) while some are done a cappella. That’s all the show is — 45 songs, offered one after another, but that’s just fine. The arrangements are modern, by one of the show’s three co-conceivers, Bruce W. Coyle, but they capture the flavor of the sophisticated society scene that so fascinated Porter.

While some musical tribute reviews offer only bits and snatches of a whole assortment of familiar titles, this one has the good sense to do each song in its entirety. Since Porter’s lyrics are as clever as his melodies are haunting, you want to hear all the verses.

Some of the songs are purely comic, like the “Tale of the Oyster” or “Well, Did Ya Evah?” Others are catchy and melodic like “Don’t Fence Me In” and “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,” while still others are just plain poignant like “Broth of a Boy” and “Love For Sale.”

Without any story line, the six performers — Whitney Bashor, Donna Lynne Champlin, Lewis Cleale, Andrea Dora, Peter Reardon and Shonn Wiley — create a dramatic context for each number. Some are done as wistful solos, others as romantic duets, still others as trios (all the men or all the women), and some as rousing group pieces.

They dance, they flirt, they drink, they get lonely or drunk or high or silly or sad, until you feel like you are right there with them at the party, and under James Naughton’s direction, what a swell party it really is.

If you like Cole Porter and  grown up music, Westport offers you a delightful evening.