Theater Review: 'What Now Voyager' by Pantochino Productions

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member and Patch Contributor Nancy Sasso Janis

Pantochino Productions’ latest original musical comedy is a saucy production titled “What Now, Voyager.” Performances of this clever new work continue through Oct. 26 at the Milford Arts Council.

The Pantochino website describes this new work:

“The glitz, glamour and romance of the Hollywood melodrama meets the hilarious and unhinged comic style of Pantochino! When the ugly duckling daughter of a wealthy Boston family comes out of her shell, she sails the high seas in search of love and romance. Any resemblance to the classic Bette Davis film is outrageously coincidental!”

Bert Bernardi pays tribute (and parody) to the movie melodramas of the 1940s with this fun musical. “This is a completely unhinged, totally ridiculous take on the stories, the acting, and the filmmaking of the 40s. Expect some twists and turns, and lots of laughs,” the playwright says in promotional materials.

For those not familiar with old movies, “Now, Voyager,” a 1942 American drama film that featured Bette Davis as Charlotte Vale, Paul Henreid as Jeremiah "Jerry" Duvaux Durrance, and Claude Rains as Dr. Jaquith. The screenplay by Casey Robinson is in turn based on the 1941 novel of the same name by Olive Higgins Prouty.

Bernardi provided the always funny book and lyrics and Justin Rugg wrote the music for the nine musical highlights in the show. Bernardi directs the cast with tongue firmly in cheek. The score opens with “Poor Charlotte", moves to the choral number “Get the Crazy Out of You” in the sanitarium and the comedic “We Swing.” The second act opener is the title song by the cast, followed by “Could This Be Love” by Charlotte and the cheeky “There Should Be a Song.”

The cast is made up of some of this delightful company’s favorites augmented with some new talent.

Pantochino veteran Mary Mannix drives this silliness in the role of Charlotte Fale, the character played by Bette Davis in the film. Mannix uses her spot-on comic timing and gets to show off her wonderful singing voice with the torch songs in this important role.

The always handsome and talented Griffin Kulp makes his Pantochino debut in the role of the suave Jonathan Devaux-Duvet. Kulp holds a BA from Dean College and works at Quinnipiac University.

As “Everybody Else,” there are Chad Celini, Jimmy Johansmeyer, Valerie (formerly Soli) Loomis, Shelley Marsh-Poggio and the resident musical director/composer Justin Rugg.

Marsh-Poggio, who has played more than 40 Pantochinio characters over the years, here takes on Charlotte’s sister-in-law, Miss Tramp at the sanitarium, and the sexy Miriam McMacIntyre. The script has Charlotte acknowledge her castmate’s quick changes by not being certain which character she is addressing.

“Let’s Not Talk” about the characters played by Johansmeyer so that you can enjoy his entrances as much as the opening night patrons. The former “resident villain” at Downtown Cabaret, recently appeared as Gary in Legacy Theatre’s “Noises Off.” Rugg gets to play the German doctor psychiatrist whose surname is mangled for comic effect.

Celini, who made his Pantochino debut last year in “Dorothy’s Christmas,” has appeared with the Bright Young Things troupe at Phoenix Stage Company.

Bernardi and Johansmeyer served as the show’s producers, with T.M. Gadomski working as stage manager. Don Poggio is the technical supervisor and Joe Landry is the graphic designer. Sound by Tyler Kittleman worked seamlessly to the cues embedded in the fun script and Von Del Mar designed the rich-looking set. Lighting by WCSU grad Jacob Kelsey worked well, as well.

Costumes by Johansmeyer are as true to the time period as always, with big wigs to match. Many of the designs stuck in my head, but I would have to choose the transformed Charlotte’s sparkly white gown trimmed with orange and purple touches as my favorite.

The untold want by life and land ne'er granted,
Now, voyager, sail thou forth, to seek and find. - Walt Whitman

I will admit that prior to the curtain, I did some cursory research on the film that is spoofed in this very funny musical. While it probably helped me to notice the twists in the script, I missed plenty of the references. Fans of the old movie will laugh the loudest, but there is plenty of fun for any audience member, with witty puns and even a few dad jokes. For the purist, Walt Whitman is referenced in the lines. Thanks to Bernardi and Rugg, this faux vintage show is deliciously over the top, ridiculousness at its best.

With strong language, a comic amount of smoking and strong sexual innuendo, this one is not for children. It is recommended for adults only, or those age 13 and over. The production is served up cabaret style, so feel free to bring your own food and drinks to enjoy at your table. Performances continue on the stage of the Milford Arts Council, The MAC, at the Milford train station, through Oct. 26. Tickets at www.pantochino.com.

All photos courtesy of Pantochino. Used with permission.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She worked as a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.