Review: Old Globe’s ‘Huzzah!’ a wacky Renaissance fair adventure

You know you’re in for a good time at the new Renaissance fair-themed musical comedy “Huzzah!,” when the pre-curtain speech is performed live, with bassoon and tambourine accompaniment, advising audience members to turn off thy cell phones, chat not with thy neighbors and don’t kiss or feed ye actors.

The funny, exuberant and lavishly staged musical opened Thursday in its world premiere at The Old Globe in Balboa Park. It’s the story of two estranged American sisters who must overcome their differences to save their family’s olde English-style historical festival.

The book, lyrics and score were co-written by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe, the married creative team who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical “Legally Blonde.”

Their 18-song “Huzzah!” score incorporates a wide variety of musical styles and sharply clever lyrics, with standout songs including the sisters duet “Dragons,” the mysterious sword-maker’s lovely ballad “The Weight in Your Hand” and the rousing and eye-opening ensemble number “The World We Live In.”

As a theater and history lover who visited many Southern California Renaissance fairs in my teens and early 20s, I admire the research that went into the writing of this musical’s book, including the colorful characters who work these events, the elaborate costumes, competitions, roasted turkey legs, guild rivalries, smelly outdoor privies and anachronistic visitors, like the fairy and Star Wars bounty hunter who turn up at the family’s King’s Bridge Fair in “Huzzah.”

Liisi LaFontaine, an endearing actor with a lovely singing voice, leads the cast as Gwen, the brainy accountant sister who left the fair a decade ago but still oversees its finances. When the fair’s bank account is unexpectedly drained, Gwen returns to discovers that her father, Johnny, is retiring and leaving the business 50-50 to Gwen and her sister, Kate, the fair’s longtime leading lady who resents Gwen’s presence. Cailen Fu is a perfect fit for the role of Kate.

Hoping to restore the festival’s past successes, Johnny (played gently by sweet-voiced Lance Arthur Smith) has spent all of the fair’s payroll to hire famed swordsman Sir Roland Prowd, who’s amusingly played by Leo Roberts. Roland becomes a big box-office attraction, but his controlling nature and demand for absolute period authenticity divides the fair’s performers and vendors, as well as the smitten sisters.

The show’s book could still use some shaping. The first act is formulaic and its plot direction and obvious romantic couplings are forecast from the start. But the shorter and better second act throws in some clever and unexpected twists for a satisfying and crowd-pleasing finale.

There’s a nice theatrical callback by the “Huzzah!” co-creators in the casting of Broadway veteran Kate Shindle as the festival’s fiercely deadpan Anne Bonny the Pirate Queen. Shindle is even wearing the same black bob-style wig she wore as Vivienne in “Legally Blonde.” But she feels a little under-used in this story.

Some of the other actors who stand out in the production are Peyton Crim as swordsmith Wayland Smith and Anthony Chatmon II as festival attorney Gareth.

Director Annie Tippe keeps the show’s action, one-liners, visual sight gags and sword battles moving along swiftly in a fun, colorful and engaging way. I especially appreciated the maypole ribbon-braiding scene and the swordfights.

The physical production, which reminded me of a Shakespeare play in the Globe’s outdoor festival theater, has been luxuriously designed with Haydee Zelideth’s wonderful period costumes, Todd Rosenthal’s two-story festival gates scenic design where the show’s orchestra performs from the balcony, lively dance choreography by Katie Spelman and fight choreography by Jacob Grigolia-Rosenbaum. Jeff Croiter designed lighting and Connor Wang designed sound.

“Huzzah!” looks like a show that’s destined for Broadway, but its premiere at the Globe features a cast generously stocked with many San Diego-based actors and alums, including Josh Breckenridge, Michael Louis Cusimano, Berto Fernández and Lance Arthur Smith.

‘Huzzah!’

When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through Oct. 19

Where: Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego

Tickets: $55 and up.

Phone: 619-234-5623

Online: theoldglobe.org