Come Fly Away

Come Fly AwayIt’s advised that audience members scout locations of nearby bars before seeing Come Fly Away, the sizzling hot and undeniably cool musical currently in performances at the Marquis Theater. Combining the timeless vocals of Frank Sinatra and the edgy, inventive choreography of Twyla Tharp, Come Fly Away serves up an undeniably entertaining cocktail of a show that will leave audience members craving a martini by curtain call. All it needs is an olive or two.Returning to Broadway after the respective success and flop of Movin’ Out and The Times They Are A-Changing , Tharp has once again taken an assorted group of songs by a single artist and created a loose story told through dancing. This time, the setting is a New York nightclub and the story is of four couples and their relationships. A live band accompanies the recordings of Sinatra, while female vocalist Hilary Gardner also performs several numbers. The plot is mostly up to the viewer’s interpretation, and the less effort one puts into understanding it the more fun the dancing will be to watch.And, trust me, the dancing is quite fun to watch. This ensemble is so skilled, so talented and so able to express their emotion through their dancing that the resulting show is captivating and the two hours pass remarkably quickly.Much of the show’s success depends on the pairs of dancers’ ability to perform together and it is clear that wise choices were made during casting. The pairing of Laura Mead as Betsy, and Charlie Neshyba-Hodges as Marty, the bartender in the nightclub, exemplifies this. Mead’s dainty stature and Neshyba-Hodges’ goofy aerodynamics combine to create an endearing chemistry. They also perform some of the more light-hearted numbers, such as “You Make Me Feel So Young” and “My Funny Valentine.”The majority of the show’s numbers are fairly pleasant, with a notable exception is the duet dance between Hank and Kate, the characters portrayed by Keith Roberts and Karine Plantadit, to “That’s Life.” A gritty, violent routine, the number portrays brutal violence and possibly abuse between the two characters, and it is truly uncomfortable to view. Plantadit is a fiercely expressive performer and her character appeared to be the most fully formed onstage, and Roberts is an equally talented dancer. As a couple, the two seemingly defy gravity.A smooth, silky relationship takes place between Holley Farmer and John Seyla, who enact a passionate courtship through some truly electrifying routines. Seyla, who has been a featured dancer of Thwarp’s for many years and performed in Movin’ Out is stunning in his solo number “The September of My Years.” Rika Okamoto and Matthew Stockwell Dibble also perform well together, and the remaining ensemble of dancers support the soloists well in the group numbers.Despite the varying levels of satisfaction the actual stories provide, by the closing dance to New York, New York the show leaves the audience with a feeling of triumph, both for the cast and for Tharp as well.