By Claire DeMarco
1933 Atlantic City felt the Depression as did the rest of the country. The city’s Steel Pier offered some respite from the gloomy economy. Not only did its dance marathons provide participants some escape, but it also provided a means to earn much-needed cash.
Rita Racine (Bella Bilandzija), has been on the marathon circuit for some time and vows that this marathon will be her last.
Her husband Mick Hamilton (Will Chadek) thinks otherwise but cajoles her into believing that this will be her last marathon. But he’s said that many times before. He is a hustler and a conniver. Their marriage is a secret. Hamilton is in charge of the marathons and having Racine participate ups the chances that she’ll take home the coveted cash prize. It’s up to her to find a dance partner.
A stunt pilot (Bill Kelly) whose plane crashed near the steel pier approaches Racine, asking her to be his dance partner. She declines. He persists. She declines again. He persists again. When unable to find a partner, Racine finally agrees. Unfortunately, he can’t dance but he gradually improves.
Kelly is drawn to Racine from the start and it’s apparent that as time passes, Racine is falling for him, too!
Will this be Racine’s last dance marathon or will Hamilton con her again to continue this charade? What happens to Racine and Kelly? Is their dance over?
This production’s choreography is spectacular and the dancers superb, agile, gymnastic, graceful.
Bilandzija is fantastic as Rita. She has a beautiful voice and is a wonderful dancer and actor. We see Bilandzija take her character from a frustrated, marathon dancer anxious and unable to leave that world into someone garnering the strength to try. Her voice is especially highlighted in her rendition of “Running in Place”.
Chadek’s Hamilton is sleazy and particularly manipulative with his wife. He controls her plus all the participants in his never-ending quest for money and the next marathon.
As the stunt pilot, McFalls has an innocence about him that is endearing. His gentle mannerisms with the fact that he initially can’t dance draw us to him.
Julianna Ramos, a marathon participant, knocks it out of the park with “Everybody’s Girl”. Her comedic timing and physical mannerisms along with a powerful voice are impeccable.
Playing a ditz requires perfect timing and execution and Charlotte Jensen, marathon participant, comes through. Her physical gymnastics and facial expressions are highlighted in “Two Little Words”. Her character’s squeaky voice changes into opera-quality with that song.
The set fits the play as most of it occurs in the background to allow ample room for dancing. One clever scene involved the creation of plane wings made of wooden planks with a moving propeller suggesting that the bathing beauties riding the wings were actually airborne.
Praise to Conductor Camille Villalpando Rolla and the Pit Musicians.
Amazing work by Co-Choreographers Tomé Cousin (also Director) and Eileen Grace.
“Steel Pier” Book by David Thompson, music and Lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb.
-CED
“Steel Pier” is a production of Pittsburgh Playhouse (Conservatory Theatre Company), 350 Forbes Avenue. Performances run from November 13th – November 17th.
