Theatre Review: ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ at The Kennedy Center
“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” at the John F. Kennedy Center is a delightful, high-energy production that can hardly be described as “semi-staged.” A fabulous cast and first-rate production team bring the whimsical and flirtatious story to life in the ample, but intimate space of the Eisenhower Theater. The singular set design cleverly creates bountiful space for the actors while highlighting the 17-piece orchestra on stage.
…a delightful, high-energy production
The cast assembled is an eclectic mix of newer faces, proven players, and genre-crossovers. As lead, Skylar Astin (J. Pierpont Finch) embraces the clever quirkiness of the iconic role, moving deftly through the snappy dialogue and keeping it wink-wink with the physical humor. As Bud Frump, Michael Urie (a face many know from the popular show “Ugly Betty”) is more overt with delivery and style, but garners a lot of laughs and approval from the audience. Betsy Wolfe (Rosemary Pilkington) exudes down-to-earth charm and has the audience rooting for her successful marital-bagging of Finch. John Michael Higgins is absolutely spot-on as top executive J.B. Biggley.
