Feb 28, 2005 By Ron Nehls For The 4 min read

The musical stage production of “My One and Only” was produced by Candlewood International at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Downtown Uniontown on Saturday. It’s a fascinating, yet curious bit of entertainment that was set in 1927, but had some dialogue that was heard on the streets around town just last week. The score was Gershwin, snitched from various other shows and turned into a carousel of tap dancing, singing and wonderment.

Based loosely on the musical, “Funny Face” which the Gershwins wrote as a vehicle for Fred and Adele Astaire in 1927, “My One and Only” opened on Broadway with Tommy Tune and Twiggy in 1983. After a somewhat questionable start, it pleased Broadway for 767 performances. The show was nominated for nine Tony Awards including “Best Musical,” “Best Choreography,” “Best Book,” “Best Costumes” and “Best Direction.” It went on to win the first two of these nominations.

Saturday Night’s performance provided a single white backdrop that offered no scenery and challenged the audience to determine what the location was on the set. A few drops like the hanging signs saying “Mr. Magix’s Tonsorial” or the “Club Oasis” helped get everyone through the scenes.

The early entrances of the dance troupe were very basic and the story line didn’t make a lot of sense at first. The “canned music” accompaniment was disappointing and it seemed at this point that it might be a long night at the theater.

Then Billy Chandler (the aviator) played by Stuart Williams was lowered into the set from high above the stage. His hayseed-like character delivered lines perfectly. Then he sang the song “Blah, Blah, Blah.” It was comedic, but the quality of his voice caught you immediately and you decided to settle in for the rest of the show. Both leads (Williams and Courtney Brunell who played the role of Edith Herbert, the Channel swimmer) were perfectly suited for their roles.

This was a show that did not have a lot to it except for the outstanding talent of the 19 or 20 performers. It’s a kind of musical compilation that is stitched together mostly by its charm. It’s not a story so much as an index of other musical numbers that we’ve all heard before.

There was a lot of Gershwin music to hear: “S,Marvelous,” “Strike up the Band,” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” But beyond that it was definitely the talent of the cast that pulled it off to the enjoyment of another large crowd at the State Theater Center for the Arts.

The story begins when Capt. Billy Buck Chandler (Stuart Williams) is determined to become the first man in history to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Like a love sick puppy, his mission is somewhat shoved aside at a railroad station when he first lays eyes on Edith Herbert (Courtney Brunell), ex-Channel swimmer and the current star attraction of the Russian Prince Nikki’s glamorous water show production.

Seeing Billy as her only hope of escaping Prince Nikki, Edith persuades Billy to fly her to Cuba, but Nikki sabotages the plane and the two lovebirds survive a rough landing on what seems like a deserted island, an island they quickly turn into paradise.

Nikki somehow finds them and forces Edith to go back to his female aqua show by threatening to reveal her past.

Billy returns to the only dream left for him – his flight to Paris and the fame he will achieve. Life is not the same for Edith either. She becomes despondent and decides to run away. Billy, however, is unable to forget Edith. He returns to Mr. Magix’s place for fresh advice. What should he do now? Mr. Magix counsels him that only love matters.

After a brief interlude that finds Prince Nikki and Billy’s female mechanic, Mickey (now revealed as a federal undercover agent) falling head over heels for one another, Billy takes off in his plane. He passes over Paris in search of Edith. He finds her in Morocco and persuades her to return to America with him and get married, which they do. After the ceremony, to the surprise of practically no one, they live happily ever after.

Although a bit unseasoned, “My One and Only” was another success at the State Theatre Center for the Arts.