Theater Review – Jerry’s Girls

The Columbus Dispatch wrote Theater Review | Jerry’s Girls

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

By Michael Grossberg

Jerry Herman’s tuneful shows demand not only good singing but also lots of charm and pizazz.

For a simple revue such as Jerry’s Girls, those elements make all the difference.

Gallery Players opened its season Saturday at the Jewish Community Center with a pleasant but spotty production. The flaws aren’t fatal, though, because the songs are the real stars of Jerry’s Girls, which draws many of its best from Mame, La Cage aux Folles, Mack and Mabel and Hello, Dolly!

Eileen Howard’s passionate singing, Danielle Mann’s and Julie Russell’s comic solos, and a few ensemble numbers (especially The Best of Times) rank high among the rare peaks of showmanship — or “show-woman-ship,” given the all-female cast and Herman’s career-long focus on strong women.

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The run of the Gallery Players show will continue at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday — and Oct. 27-28 — in the Jewish Community Center, 1125 College Ave. Tickets cost $18, or $16 for senior citizens, $10 and $12 for center members. Call 614-559-6248 or visit www.jccgalleryplayers.org.

Note: Eileen Howard does free vocal lessons for the All People Open Mic