Go 'Crazy' with Gershwin-laden musical

"Crazy For You," which opened last week at Spring Mountain Ranch as the second performance of the season for the Super Summer Theatre, is a well-spun bit of cotton candy: light, airy, perfect in its insubstantiality.

Most likely chosen for the musical comedy's setting -- in the "tired town of Deadrock, Nevada" -- rather than its scintillating dialogue and plot, the musical is a thinly-written device to replicate one sumptuous Gershwin tune after another.

But who really minds, with numbers such as the romantic "Embracable You," "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "They Can't Take That Away From Me."

The story tells of Bobby Child, an aspiring actor from a wealthy New York family, who is sent out to an old mining town in Nevada to foreclose on the bankrupt Gaiety Theater. Upon arrival, he meets and promptly falls for Polly Baker, the theater owner's daughter, who, naturally, wants nothing to do with him.

Disguising himself as the famed producer Bela Zangler, (a thinly disguised Ziegfield reference) Bobby works with Polly to put on a show to rescue the theater, calling in his friends, the Follies Girls from New York, and training the local cowboys to sing.

Polly, naturally, falls for Bobby -- except he is disguised as Bela. Soon, the real Bela shows up. Then, no one shows up to see the show (except, in a humorous side note, the Fodors of travel book fame, who are passing through town for a review of the hotel/saloon).

The plot goes on from there, but, again, what does it matter? By the final stunning pose, everything is righted, Bobby has won the girl, and the theater will survive.

Lead Adam Kaokept was obviously chosen for his adept footwork and energy, giving a breathless performance as Bobby. His co-star, Blythe Jordan as the spunky Polly, didn't take long to find her poise in the strongly delivered numbers, "Embracable You" and "I Got Rhythm." Also enjoyable were supporting characters such as Irene, Bobby's jilted fiancee, played by Chalice Lundquist, who sings "Naughty Baby," with spirit.

Sharply assembled, the sets were cleanly and smoothly transitioned, the lighting design was noticeably stunning, if off tempo at times, and the costumes (from what one could gather from the back row) just peachy. The hiring of Judy Ann Bassing of New York's Broadway Dance Center as guest choreographer clearly paid off.

Overall, director Jennifer Camp Beagley shows a sure hand with her direction. The jokes may be groaners, yet they are delivered with impeccable timing by the ensemble. The plot is hardly a nail-biter, yet is kept humming along with cute business and bits.

The show may be maddeningly dopey, even by musical comedy standards, but you'd still be "Crazy" not to give it a try.

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