Swing!
At The Paramount Theatre
By Dan Larsen, for SeattleInsider.com
Originally published by Cox Interactive Media

From the same team that brought you "STOMP!" and Richard Chamberlain's stint in "The Sound of Music" comes "Swing!," packaged as a celebration of the music and dance phenomenon that dominated war-era America and England.

Sadly, born more of a desire to make a Broadway hit than of a passion for swing, the production is an unusually substandard evening of entertainment at The Paramount.

Basically a series of well-known toe-tappers like "It Don't Mean A Thing ..." and "Harlem Nocturne" shrink-wrapped for the enjoyment of those who don't know the difference between Ellington and a broadway knock-off, "Swing!" suffers from a terminal case on touring lethargy and soulless origin.

Other than the sporadic opportunity to stand up and show that they really can play those big band numbers with gusto and skill, the band was comatose through most of the evening. And the dancing/singing performances, while quite talented in parts -- the female solos in particular -- offer the same rehearsed stagnation that the eyeball-achingly rigid antics of professional swing dancing contests routinely display.

To be fair, the second half of the production does finally awake from its slumber and offer some rousing performances. A sultry, playful duet of "Cry Me A River" between a female soloist and the band's talented trombone player shone in particular, as did the show's climax with an energetic rendition of old faithful: "Sing, Sing, Sing."

Good, clean nostalgia for seniors and those who think "Sing, Sing, Sing" is the be-all and end-all of swing and big band, but real swing fans, those who know that swing dies if you try and can it, would be well advised to give this broadway schlock a wide berth.

Tickets are $16 - $50 and are available from Tickets.com. Visit the show's Web site at Swingonbroadway.com for more information.

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