Last night’s opening of the Toronto Youth Theatre’s presentation of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was a delightful affair, staged in a sweet little rented space of about 120 seats in the Lower Ossington Theatre.
Those who enjoy sharing movies with their adolescent children should consider tracking down theatre presented by other youth — it’s an enriching experience and provides a chance to discover future Canadian stars. Youth theatre is also a lot less expensive than the professional stuff, where ticket prices enter fiscally prohibitive territory for good seats. At the Youth Theatre, adults get in for $30, youths for $20.
I am ashamed to say that I have not previously followed the Toronto Youth Theatre, but you will thank me for bringing this play to your attention.
I lack the space here to go into the history of this often uproarious, quite satirical show, which was first a monster hit (and Tony Award-winner) back in 1961 and made a star of the then-young Robert Morse (who now plays the oldest major character on the glorious Mad Men, which like this play is about the sexist, corporate world of big business).
The music and lyrics were created by the brilliant Frank Loesser, whose Guys and Dolls inarguably deserves to be included in any list of the top five greatest musical comedies ever written.
Being put on by mostly teenage students, the Toronto Youth Theatre’s version is not a professional production. And at times, it shows: the costumes are sometimes ill-fitting, some of the voices are too weak and — of course — it’s a struggle to accept these youthful faces and bodies as belonging to men and women in their 30s and 40s.
But the two major romantic roles, played by Elan Schwartz (with a lovely voice and a face reminiscent of a young Keira Knightley) and Braeden Soltys (a fine, strong voice, with the looks of a comic Ryan Gosling), are both satisfying and even thrilling to watch and experience.
This is hilarious musical theatre, surprisingly well choreographed, and a delight. Several of the songs are classics, and how good it is to see future stars of Canadian theatre as they learn their craft. I plan to catch as many productions of the Toronto Youth Theatre as I can in the future, and I'm angry with myself for having missed their first two dozen shows.
Bravo, kids.
Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington Ave., 416-915-6747. To April 28.
