Musical Review: Nice Work if You Can Get It | @SegerstromArts #NiceWorkOnTour #SCFTA

Disclosure: This is written by Amy Walton who attended a media preview. All opinions are our own.

If you can catch a performance of the musical comedy, Nice Work if You Can Get It, in town this week only at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, you definitely won't regret it! This show is a fun and lighthearted compilation of so many classic and lesser known Ira & George Gershwin songs.

Alex Enterline (Jimmy Winter) and the ensemble of the 
NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT national tour - Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Nice Work if You Can Get It tells the simple and entertaining story of an unlikely couple, featuring Alex Enterline (as wealthy playboy Jimmy Winter) and Mariah MacFarlane (as feisty bootlegger Billie Bendix). The scene is set in the prohibition era of the 1920's. On the night before Jimmy's wedding, he meets an unlikely new love interest at his Bachelor Party.  The classic songs help narrate the evening, and several love stories emerge in the midst of the entertaining commotion in hiding the bootleggers' secrets from the police and Jimmy's wedding party.

The show almost immediately launches into several of the most well known Gershwin songs, like Sweet and Lowdown (my favorite!!), and the title song, Nice Work if You Can Get It (originally featured in the show Crazy for You, which was another great musical featuring some of the best Gershwin songs). It is such a treat to hear all the catchy classic songs performed in a new way, as part of a different storyline, plus several lesser known Gershwin songs that are fun to experience for the first time.  The songs are smartly woven into a cute and funny love story.

Stephanie Harter Gilmore (Duchess Estonia Dulworth) and the male ensemble
of the NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT national tour - Photo by Jeremy Daniel

The troop of female dancers is polished and talented, but the male dancers, the "Vice Squad," really stole the show with their hysterical, on point comedic timing.  Their over-dramatized and exaggerated sharp dance moves made them a joy to watch and really enhanced the scenes of the show.  Another great scene is when Stephanie Harter Gilmore, who plays stuffy and sober Duchess Estonia Dulworth, has a few drinks and swings from the chandelier in a show-stealing moment.


My favorite quote:

Duchess: "Butler, I'd like a lemonade."

Cookie/Butler: "Well, it's good to have a dream." HA! Best line!

The Duchess Estonia and Cookie perform a song mash up number together, pairing the traditional waltz tune By Strauss with the upbeat reprise of Sweet and Lowdown. It captured the character personalities so well, and it was great to hear that classic song once again.  Reed Campbell, who played Cookie McGee, was one of the best actors in the show. His comedic timing and clever acting really bring the scenes to life.

Aaron Fried (Duke Mahoney), Reed Campbell (Cookie McGee) and Mariah MacFarlane (Billie Bendix)
in the NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT national tour - Photo by Jeremy Daniel

PRE-SHOW ACTIVITIES:

Be sure to get to the theatre early so you can take advantage of the fun activities in the Orchestra level lobby.

• Talented pianist Peggy Duquesnel performs to the popular Gershwin hits and other great jazz songs in the lobby. 

• In that same area, the bar features two festive prohibition-era themed cocktails designed by the Patina Restaurant Group. They're available for purchase before the show and at intermission.  

• While enjoying your cocktail and the great music, there is a photo opportunity, as well as a station where you can scan the provided QR code with your smartphone and experience the whole Gershwin musical catalogue through reinterpreted versions by new artists.  

• The Orchestra level lobby also features a list of all the Gershwin hit songs and the musicals and movies they were a part of originally. 

I loved being reminded of the classic films and musicals. You can use this station to play some self-hosted trivia with your date, too!  The whole lobby is such a great way to get in the spirit of the musical.

Nice Work if You Can Get It performs this week only March 17 - 22, 2015 at The Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA.  Tickets start at $29 and may be purchased online at SCFTA.org, the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive, in Costa Mesa, or by calling (714) 556-2787.
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A review by Amy Walton. Amy has lived in Orange County for over 12 years and loves to blog about new recipes, craft projects, and random musings over at SoTherebyAmy.com. Be yourself; everyone else is taken.