'50 Million Frenchmen' Brings A Taste of Gay Paree to Village

As the popular song states, 50 million Frenchmen can’t be wrong, and a revival of the Cole Porter musical by the same name at ’s Levitas Center for the Arts proves that in some cases, "50 Million Frenchman" can be very, very right.

The show, which first opened on Broadway in 1929, is a delightful glimpse into the gaiety of Prohibition-era Paris — a time when flappers danced without care and the cocktails flowed freely. The city conjured glittering fascination for Americans with a fierce thirst not only for alcohol but for the ephemeral joie de vivre that only magical “Paree” could quench.

Directed and choreographed by Michael Disher, the production is a quintessential portrait of a moment in time when anything was possible. Utilizing a bare stage — stark, save for an ever shifting array of sepia 1920s photographs on a screen — an incandescent cast comes alive, with every nuance, every spoken word, every jubilant dance number a celebration of legendary gay Paree. With book by Herbert Fields and music and lyrics by Porter, the show stands the test of time and comes alive in its new incarnation.

The plotline, a classic boy meets girl tale, involves the adventures of wealthy American Peter Forbes, played by accomplished Jack Seabury, whose friends Billy Baxter (V.J. Chiaramonte) and Michael Cummins (Adam Fronc) wage a bet that he cannot woo the lovely Looloo Carroll (Erin Clancy-Balsamo) while penniless and become engaged in a month. What ensues is a hilarious and well-orchestrated romp as free-spending Americans come to Paris to cast their inhibitions aside and vie for a taste of the frivolity and sensuality that only 1920s Paree can afford.

Each actor brings a multi-faceted performance to the stage, with Fronc and Chiaramonte thoroughly engaging in their roles, and Karen Hochstedler and Ken Rowland offering spot-on depictions of wealthy Americans in the City of Lights, eager to marry off their daughter, played with winsome sincerity by Clancy-Balsamo. As aspiring singer May DeVere, Bethany Dellapolla’s flirtatious, lusty vocals bring down the house with “Find Me a Primitive Man,” while Anita Boyer and Lauren Rowland add dazzle to a show that bursts with flavor and succulent life. Mike Canestraro, as Louis Pernasse, and Michael Contino, as a waiter, add humor and personality to a finely assembled cast.

Disher is a diamond in the Southampton Cultural Center’s veritable treasure chest — his shows, including the most recent hit rendering of "Cabaret," sparkle with energy and razor sharp choreography. His passion for his craft, fueled by an endless fire and work sensibility, are a siren song for actors who clamor to immerse themselves in his tutelage. East End theater doyen, Lee Davis, who collaborated with Disher in production supervision on the piece, described the spell Disher cast on his actors: “His Pygmalion powers were transforming a stage into Paris and cast into a delight and a concert into a spectacle.”

Many of the current ensemble are Southampton Cultural Center alumni, having appeared in numerous Disher productions and returning time and time again for the opportunity to work with a man whose name on the East End theater landscape is synonymous with excellence.

If the current staging of "50 Million Frenchman" is fueled by its dynamic score, musical director Bobby Peterson sparks the magic. Peterson, also a familiar face in Disher productions, takes the classic score and infuses it with timeless raw energy; musical numbers, and the accomplished cast that performs them, give this delightful show its heart and essence. Set design by Ken Rowland is piercingly effective at giving the music and cast a platform to shine; lighting by Peter Eilenberg dazzles.

The show is a must-see glimpse into a carefree time and place that, upon revisiting, lifts the spirits and sheds light and life, even during the darkest winter months.

In recent months, Disher has tirelessly endeavored to mount and stage more than one production simultaneously. "50 Million Frenchman," which continues with a matinee at and performances next and , will be immediately followed by "," which opens on Jan. 21 and runs for three weekends, through Feb. 6. For further information, reservations and ticket prices, call 631-287-4377.

Tickets are $25, or $12 for students younger than 21 with an ID. Fridays at the door, seniors pay only $22.