Andre Dion Wills, Mary Searcy, Jesaira Glover, Kelli Blackwell and Ray Hatch (from left) entertain with Fats Waller tunes in Ain’t Misbehavin’, onstage through Feb. 28.

Tony winner ‘Misbehavin’ revue onstage

by Heather Perlberg

    The cast of Ain’t Misbehavin’ worked the room with swing and jazz tunes at a recent Toby’s Dinner Theatre musical revue.
    Directed by Kevin McAllister, the show features the music of Fats Waller as a small cast of five entertain with booming voices and just enough attitude to bring each song into the next.
    Waller was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer and comedic entertainer who composed many swing tunes in the 1920s and 1930s.
    There wasn’t a weak voice on the stage at the Jan. 31 production of Ain’t Misbehavin’. Jesaira Glover, Kelli Blackwell and Mary Searcy    belted out a lovely combination of notes, teasing the audience with provocative gestures and snazzy swing steps.
    Andre Dion Wills and Ray Hatch balanced each other nicely and complemented the ladies’ sweet melodies with deep, reverberating sounds. 
    Musical director Cedric Lyles leads the band – situated onstage – from behind a piano. The rich, fast-paced music does just enough to highlight the singers without overshadowing them. Also in the band is a bassist, trumpeter, saxophonist and drummer. 
    The audience was encouraged to interact with the performers and egg them on whenever appropriate at the production last month.
    Though the audience was forewarned one song would involve the smoking of a sage cigarette, a gregarious crowd erupted in laughter when a woman seated close to the stage was offered a puff during the song “The Viper’s Drag.” Most impressive was that Hatch’s smooth voice never wavered as he took drags between song verses.
    The room reverberated as Glover joined Wills in the duet “Honeysuckle Rose.” Searcy’s vocal prowess was disarming in her solo “I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling,” and Blackwell owned the show during her  rendition of “When the Nylons Bloom Again.”
    Lawrence B. Munsey designed the women’s costumes to be feminine and consistent, which helped distinguish the three singers. Pinstripe suits and a collection of dapper hats kept the men looking sharp. 
    Choreography by Ray Hatch and creative costume changes transformed hat styles and removed fox fur pelts gracefully in the beginning of the second act.
    The original Broadway production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ won several Tony awards after it opened in 1978. It ran for over 1,600 performances.

Ain’t Misbehavin’
•    What: Current production at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore, 5625 O’Donnell St., through Feb. 28.
•    When: Performances Thursday through Sunday (selected performances Tuesday and Wednesday). Doors open at 6 p.m. for evening shows (5 p.m. Sunday) and 10:30 a.m. for matinees. Reservations are required.
•    How much: Tickets $34.50 to $54.
•    Info, reservations: 410-649-1660 or 1-866-99TOBYS