At first I thought this place was a dive!

My mother and I both agreed that, if we were in Los Angeles right now, we would have already bought tickets to see this production of her all-time favorite musical, They're Playing Our Song. Now, I'll be the first to admit that those four words tend to strike fear in the hearts of self-conscious hipster music lovers everywhere. It's a musical that was so ingrained in the sound of disco that the cast album was even released on Island Records. And you've got your Robert Klein hamming it up as a composer very much based on Marvin Hamlisch, and Lucie Arnaz singing somewhat endearingly off-key as his loopy collaborator/love interest...so all signs would point to "uncool." Adding to this, I have been told by more than a few people that I should play the Arnaz role someday. Given my repressive tendencies, it may have been the first musical I ever saw. But maybe I'm old enough to start appreciating it now...even unironically! You've got Vicki Lewis, who can actually sing, in the Arnaz role, she's cool, and Scott "Yes, Welcome to the Club!" Waara in the Klein role, and the obligatory publicity photo of them with a piano. Hey, Wonder Mike, it looks wonderfully cheesetastic.

I'm not holding my breath for this to go to Broadway. This show has never been revived (probably because no one can hold a candle to the original leads), while it has a long, long life at regional stock and dinner theatres. It's really more what these people tend to do for play as opposed to work. This review seems far less than encouraging. But this one gives me faith that we can make it happen.
Lest you think this show amounts to little more than your parents "singing" karaoke sober (which it kinda does), I instead direct you to this happily un-self-conscious video of O.G. Vernon and Sonia doing what they do best.

And those pics? Jimmy Powers has really let himself go!