"Lucky Stiff" - by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens - TCAN Players (Natick, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of the musical "LUCKY STIFF" by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, now playing at the TCAN Mainstage through March 9, 2025. Photo Credit: Amanda Greenslet)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“With you in my life, we'll both find out how living feels. With you in my life, my life will be a hell on wheels."
- ("Harry") / Lynn Ahrens
TCAN Players
Presents the Musical
"LUCKY STIFF"
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Book and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Based on "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" by Michael Butterworth
Directed by Danielle Woods
Music Director Lisa Utzig
Choreographer Jill Tokac
Cast Includes: Krishan Oberoi as “Harry Witherspoon,” Kristen Sehn as “Annabel Glick,” Madison Canfora as “Rita La Porta,” Patrick French as “Vinnie Di Ruzzio,” Benjamin Medeiros as “Tony Hendon/Luigi Gaudi,” Kristin Fehlau as “Dominique,” Richard Mandel as “Uncle Tony,”
Ensemble: Shannon Fay, Andrew Haber, Carolyn Cafarelli, Rebecca Graber.
Additional Creative Team:
Set Design - Tom E. Powers; Lighting Design - Kit Carda; Costume Design - Romy Steinitz-Miller, Winter Qiu; Props - Jackie Avery, Cynthia Small; Stage Managers - Laura Nicholson, Colleen Woodson; Hair and Makeup Design - Jane Wilshire Tempesta; Producers - Richard Mandel, Amanda Greenslet.
Performances:
February 28, 2025 through March 9, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
All performances to be held at the TCAN Mainstage, 14 Summer Street, Natick, MA. 01760
TICKETS:
Call # 508-647-0097 or visit https://tcan.org/
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
TCAN Players presents the musical "LUCKY STIFF" the first collaboration that launched the highly successful writing team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
However, this show might be far removed from what audiences have come to expect from the more grandiose, larger-scale musicals for which Ahrens and Flaherty are most associated.
Directed by Danielle Woods, with Jill Tokac as choreographer and Lisa Utzig as music director, the show has been staged in an intimate, blackbox style setting with a small cast of 11 actors.
The TCAN ensemble is the true backbone of "LUCKY STIFF" as they portray multiple characters, propelling the story forward.
The cast successfully aids in every single set change all while wearing a variety of crazy costumes and a plethora of insane wigs, sometimes needing to change at an accelerated pace.
"LUCKY STIFF" - based on the 1983 novel “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo” by Michael Butterworth - was first produced Off-Broadway in 1988 and ultimately winning the Richard Rodgers Award that same year.
It would also go on to win the 1990 Helen Hayes Award for Best Musical.
"LUCKY STIFF" was adapted into a movie by Ahrens in 2014 with additional songs by Ahrens and Flaherty.
And yet, as mentioned, when you consider other highly successful Ahrens-Flaherty musicals, this is not one that first comes to mind.
The team of Ahrens-Flaherty is best known for writing the Broadway musicals “Ragtime,” considered by many as one of the finest musicals of the latter half of the 20th Century.
“Ragtime” was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, and won the Tony for Best Original Score.
They also co-created the iconic “Once on This Island” which was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won for Best Revival of a Musical.
In addition, the duo was the music force behind the marvelous shows “Anastasia,” “Seussical” and “A Man of No Importance.”
Many of the Ahrens-Flaherty collaborative efforts have become reliable musical staples performed regularly across the country at schools and regional theatres.
And yet, "LUCKY STIFF" was the first (if not the best) musical featuring catchy tunes and a cleverly constructed farce.
As the musical begins, it is the middle of the 20th Century as the cast enters onto the stage.
The TCAN Players ensemble serves as a kind of “Greek Chorus” to let us know in advance of the preposterous events about to unfold in the show’s opener “Something Funny's Going On.”
We then are introduced to lonely, single Englishman Harry Witherspoon (Krishan Oberoi) who is spending another depressing night at his dreary job in a shoe store.
Oberoi issues a fine portrayal of Harry, not presenting him as a meaningless, seflish "one-note" character for which folks in the audience might have a hard time rooting.
While Harry could (wrongly so) be played as hopeless, meek, nebbish or even spineless, Oberoi instead conveys Harry with a little bit more optimism in the face of adversity (or, in his case as the story begins, the lack of opportunity or adventure), which he conveys well in a strong rendering of the song "Mr. Witherspoon's Friday Night.”
Harry is soon given his one chance to enjoy life for the first time.
He gets a telegram summoning him to a solicitor's office where he learns that his wealthy American “Uncle Anthony” (Richard Mandel) has left him six million dollars.
(Photo: Richard Mandel as “Uncle Tony” with Madison Canfora as “Rita La Porta” in a scene from the musical "LUCKY STIFF" by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, now playing at the TCAN Mainstage through March 9, 2025. Photo Credit: Amanda Greenslet)
Now, before proceeding with the rest of this review, it must be mentioned that, in order to enjoy "LUCKY STIFF" one must immediately suspend disbelief - as most of what occurs next seemingly could make about as much sense as the plot of a Hannah Barbera cartoon.
When Harry arrives at the solicitor’s office, he “meets” his Uncle Anthony, who has had himself embalmed, dressed to appear alive and whose lifeless body sits in a wheelchair.
Mandel must maintain the lifeless “Weekend at Bernie’s” presence of Uncle Anthony for the entire two-hour duration of the show and does so quite admirably.
As is the catch in any kind of farce, in order for Harry to receive Uncle Anthony’s estate, Harry must take Uncle Anthony – the completely and utterly dead Uncle Anthony - on an “all-expenses paid vacation" to Monte Carlo.
As mentioned earlier, if one can suspend disbelief, then they will have a grand old time as the crazy events begin to unfold...or, in some cases, unravel.
Harry must fulfill the tasks specified by his uncle's will, or the money will go to his uncle's favorite charity, the “Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn.”
Of course, Harry reluctantly accepts the terms of the will (otherwise we wouldn’t have a show, now would we?).
Harry travels to Monte Carlo with Uncle Harry and a cassette tape that contains all of Uncle Harry’s instructions.
(Photo: Krishan Oberoi as “Harry Witherspoon” with Kristen Sehn as “Annabel Glick” in a scene from the musical "LUCKY STIFF" by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, now playing at the TCAN Mainstage through March 9, 2025. Photo Credit: Amanda Greenslet)
Meanwhile, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, anxious optometrist Vinnie (Patrick French) is visited unexpectedly by his distressed sister Rita (Madison Canfora).
The myopic Rita shows Vinnie a news article about Harry and the six million dollars.
Rita confesses to Vinnie that (due to her being legally blind) she accidentally shot her lover Tony, aka “Uncle Anthony.”
Uncle Anthony was manager of Rita’s husband Nicky's casino, and Rita suspected “Tony” was cheating on her while she was cheating on Nicky with him.
Confused? Don't say I didn't warn you - and there’s more.
Rita tells Vinnie that the six million dollars was actually in the form of diamonds she and Tony stole from Nicky and hid in a heart-shaped box (which Harry is unaware is concealed in the Monte Carlo hotel room where he is staying with Uncle Anthony’s corpse).
Rita and Vinnie fly to Monte Carlo to find Harry and retrieve the diamonds.
French and Canfora are the very best reasons to see "LUCKY STIFF" as they provide the most hilarious moments in the musical (again, aided in every scene by the members of the highly capable ensemble).
Canfora also has an exceptional singing voice proven multiple times throughout the show.
Harry arrives in Monte Carlo with his uncle where the “duo” meets Luigi Gaudi (Benjamin Medeiros), a flashy Italian, who offers to be “their” tour guide.
Medeiros is fine as Luigi but is wasted as he is not given much material to work with until the very end of the story.
(Photo: Madison Canfora as “Rita La Porta” with Patrick French as “Vinnie Di Ruzzio” in a scene from the musical "LUCKY STIFF" by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, now playing at the TCAN Mainstage through March 9, 2025. Photo Credit: Amanda Greenslet)
Although frustrated having to go through this to obtain his inheritance, Harry ultimately relents that he is actually fortunate to be there with his Uncle Anthony in the song "Lucky.”
Harry spends time traveling around Monte Carlo with Uncle Anthony in tow (literally “in tow”) doing what is required in the will (which includes buying new clothes, gambling, visiting museums, skydiving, fishing and scuba diving and more).
Not knowing that he is in danger, soon Harry finds himself beginning to buy into his uncle's crazy scheme and is actually experiencing joy in his life for the very first time.
Harry keeps seeing a young woman following him and when he confronts her, he discovers her name is Annabel (Kristen Sehn) from the “Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn” - the only other designee of Uncle Anthony’s estate.
Annabel is there to see he finishes every task required by the will and reminds him that: should Harry fail to execute any single part of it, he will lose ALL the money, which she explains in the clever song, "Dogs vs. You.”
So, this sets up all sorts of antics that take place as Harry is “dogged” by Annabel and the villainous team of Rita and Vinnie when they arrive at Monte Carlo.
Voluptuous singer and dancer Dominique (Kristin Fehlau in a fine supporting performance) sings a rousing cabaret style number "Speaking French” that gets everybody in the nightclub up and dancing.
Dominique tells Harry and tells him that Uncle Anthony had pre-arranged for the two of them to spend the night together.
Annabel follows and all sorts of mayhem ensues.
As constructed, Act One of "LUCKY STIFF" tends to plod along, setting us up for much of the payoff that occurs during the second act, where the musical is much stronger.
The character of Harry is not as compelling a protagonist as his motivations are clearly selfish. The only question becomes if his selfishness can be overcome by the story's conclusion.
Again, the ensemble (credited as Shannon Fay, Andrew Haber, Carolyn Cafarelli and Rebecca Graber) is highly successful executing the varied characters they portray, providing the “Greek Chorus” and serving as the stage crew, making sure the show flows with as little downtime as possible in between scenes.
(Photo: The CAST of the musical "LUCKY STIFF" by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, now playing at the TCAN Mainstage through March 9, 2025. Photo Credit: Amanda Greenslet)
Using an offstage single piano for accompaniment, while creating a nice intimate "dinner theatre" ambience, there were a few occasionally “pitchy” moments during some numbers, possibly from not being able to hear the accompaniment.
Overall, the TCAN principal cast delivers in both the farcical material and surprises in many of the more standard musical numbers such as “Nice” sung by Sehn and Oberoi.
Other standout songs include “The Phone Call” sung by French as a stressed-out “Vinnie” and “Fancy Meeting You Here” sung by Canfora as “Rita.”
The TCAN Players set was kept minimal and allowed for many of the quick changes required, although actual stage space seemed to be at a premium, keeping from some actions to be performed unencumbered.
There are only two more chances left to catch the drop dead funny musical "LUCKY STIFF" at the TCAN Mainstage which only runs until March 9th, 2025. So, don't let this one slip away.
For tickets and more information, contact TCAN Players at # 508-647-0097 or visit https://tcan.org/.
BUY TICKETS
Approximately two hours, 10 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
A musical with a dead uncle, a six-million-dollar inheritance, and a whirlwind trip to Monte Carlo—what could possibly go wrong?
Based on the 1983 novel, “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo” by Michael Butterworth, "LUCKY STIFF" is an offbeat, hilarious murder mystery farce, complete with mistaken identities, six million bucks in diamonds, and a corpse in a wheelchair.
The tuneful score of "LUCKY STIFF," composed by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, includes “Something Funny’s Going On,” “Times Like This,” “Good to Be Alive” and “Nice.”
Their first collaboration as a writing team, Ahrens and Flaherty went on to create “Once on This Island,” the Tony Award winning musical “Ragtime,” “Seussical” and other well-known musicals.
The story of "LUCKY STIFF" revolves around Harry Witherspoon, a mild-mannered English shoe salesman who is forced to take the embalmed body of his recently murdered uncle on a vacation to Monte Carlo.
Should he succeed in passing his uncle off as alive, Harry stands to inherit $6,000,000.
If not, the money goes to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn… or else his uncle’s gun-toting ex!
"LUCKY STIFF" was created and performed at Playwrights Horizons off-Broadway in 1988, and won the Richard Rodgers Award for that year, followed by a successful run in London’s West End in 1997.
A feature film version of "LUCKY STIFF," adapted by Ahrens and directed by Christopher Ashley, premiered at the 2014 Montreal World Film Festival and has been seen at other film festivals.
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR ARTS IN NATICK (TCAN)
THE CENTER FOR ARTS IN NATICK (TCAN) serves the MetroWest region by increasing opportunities to experience, participate in, and learn about the arts. To this end TCAN strives to present arts programs of the highest standard that are available to everyone. TCAN dedicates its resources to providing community access to diverse arts programs, reducing barriers to attendance, and building appreciation through arts education.
Mailing Address:
14 Summer Street
Natick, MA. 01760
Phone # 508-647-0097
