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| Shirley Booth (above) starred in the TV series Hazel from 1961-1966 |
What: Hazel: A Musical Maid in America
Where: The Lyric Theatre Performance Spaces
43rd Street
New York, New York
When: May 28 and 29, 2015
My view: Whether you remember the old TV series Hazel or not, the show Hazel: A Musical Maid in America is a delight. The story is entertaining. The music is pretty. While I did not leave the theater humming any of it, it still was enjoyable to listen to during the course of the show. Klea Blackhurst, who played the title role in this version, as well as in a previous industry presentation that took place in 2014, gives the role a lot of heart. From what I recall of the few episodes of the old TV series that I remember seeing in syndication, Shirley Booth's Hazel could be a bit pushy and a bit of a know-it-all. Ms. Blackhurst's portrayal is much softer around the edges. She is still wiser than everybody around her but she shows it in much subtler ways. That makes the character in this version even more likable than she was on the TV show. The rest of the cast was equally suited to their parts and enjoyable in their roles including a few who stepped into the roles at the last minute as replacements. The show with a book by Lissa Levin, music by Ron Abel and lyrics by Chuck Steffan was directed by Lucie Arnaz with energetic choreography by Chet Walker. All in all, it is a really fun show and if you ever have an opportunity to see it, I would highly recommend it particularly if Klea Blackhurst is playing the title role.
And that's my view. Tune in tomorrow for the Sunday Scoop.
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