CAGNEY by Carol Kaufman Segal

            When I knew Cagney was scheduled to open at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood featuring the original New York cast, I was looking forward to it with great enthusium.  I am always excited to see a good musical, but this production deserves much more than the word “good,” This musical is superb!  Whether you are old enough to have seen or remember James Cagney makes no difference.  You will enjoy everything about this elegant production.

            Robert Creighton stars as the incomparable Cagney.  He also wrote some of the original songs and lyrics presented in the show, together with Christopher McGovern.  His talents as an actor, singer, and dancer, are first-rate, and who could ask for anything more.  But there is more; the man has the looks, the build, the manner, and similar talents as those of the character he is portraying.  The New York Times wrote “Robert Creighton is born for the role.”

            James Cagney was born July 17, 1899.  He grew up in a tough neighborhood on the Lower East Side of New York.  The family was having a rough time financially, and when Cagney lost his job, his brother Bill (Josh Walden) saw an ad in the newspaper for a dancer and his mother (Danette Holden) convinced him to apply for it.  He was reticent to do so, but finally thought, “What the heck”.

              That was the start of his successful career as a singer, dancer, and actor on stage and screen and, eventually as a star in gangster movies.  It was also where he met his wife Willie (the lovely Ellen Z. Wright). The one thing missing in the story is where Cagney acquired his skills as a dancer, singer and actor.  Was it simply that he was a natural?

            Nevertheless, he did acquire these skills and he signed his first movie contract with Jack Warner (Bruce Sabath).  They clashed off-and-on for years throughout his career which led him to leave Warner several times, each time returning under better circumstances.

            Jeremy Benton also plays Bob Hope and other characters.  All cast members, except for Creighton, perform multiple roles as the story of James Cagney unfolds.  Creighton leads this cast as they tap dance through the wonderful music of George M. Cohan and the original songs by Creighton and McGovern.  Lovers of tap dancing will be overly enthralled, choreography by Joshua Bergasse.  The live music is under the direction of Gerald Sternbach, set design by James Morgan, great costumes by Martha Bromelmeir, all under the direction of Bill Castellino.

            Performances of Cagney will play Tuesdays at 7:30 PM, Wednesdays at 2 PM and 8 PM,   Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM, and Sundays at 3 PM. (with some exceptions) at the ‘’El Portal Theatre’s Debbie Reynolds Mainstage, 5249 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood.  Tickets are available online at CagneyThe Musical.com or by phone at (866) 811-4111 (where you can also check out the exception dates).

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