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Richard Vida: The Drowsy Chaperone
 The first national tour of The Drowsy Chaperone, one of the most anticipated shows of the 2007/2008 Citizens Bank Broadway Series, arrives this month at the Providence Performing Arts Center. Described as a "completely original musical comedy" in press releases, it won five Tony Awards and played to sold out crowds during the 2006 Broadway season in New York City.
Among the cast members is Richard Vida who plays George the best man, one of the many uproariously funny characters that populate The Drowsy Chaperone. Other cast members include Jonathan Crombie (Man in the Chair), Mark Ledbetter (Robert Martin), Andrea Chamberlain (Janet Van De Graaf) and Georgia Engle who reprises her Broadway role of Mrs. Tottendale.
Mr. Vida told me during a phone conversation he's thrilled to be with a production he finds to be "the most human musical in a long time." And he stressed "we are the real Broadway show on tour. No expenses spared. The sets, the costumes, everything. You've got Broadway coming to Providence."
The Drowsy Chaperone also has a connection to real life, noted Vida. It originated as a skit composed by a group of Canadian comedy writers for friends Janet Van De Graaf and Robert Martin who were getting married. The "Janet and Robert" of the musical are real people. After their wedding the skit was expanded and became the acclaimed Broadway production.
The play, which is really a "show within a show," opens with the main character known simply as the Man in the Chair. He lives alone in a tiny apartment. Whenever he feels blue he puts on one of his favorite LP's a 1928 musical called the Drowsy Chaperone.
Instantly, his dreary digs become a glittery stage filled with whacky characters, mostly old Broadway musical stereotypes: Janet, the starlet who wants to quit the Follies to marry; a producer and an investor who hire gangsters to prevent the wedding, a chaperone (also the maid of honor), Robert, the groom and the best man among others. At various times the Man in the Chair lifts the needle on his hi fi, the action stops on stage and he interjects his own witty observations.
Vida portrays George, the harried best man. He has one objective; to get Janet and Robert married. "But of course everything that can go wrong, does", laughed Vida.
"I don't want to give too much away though" explained Vida. The show is such a surprise, nobody (the audience) knows what to expect when it begins. Then there's a moment of recognition which comes during the first company musical number, "Fancy Dress".
In real life though, things are going quite right for Mr. Vida who had moved to Hawaii planning to retire or possibly teach then instead headed up a ballet company. However, he "put it all on hold" to join the tour last August.
"I've had a wonderful career" says the Hartford, CT native who began dancing at the age of ten. (Those skills are on display in The Drowsy Chaperone during "Cold Feets", a rousing tap duet with Robert, the groom.) The eldest of three brothers, Vida grew up in a close, hard working Portuguese family. His mother was a nurse and his father a vice president of an insurance company.
Describing himself as "very focused" Vida knew at an early age he wanted to be an actor, especially in musical theater. "To his parents chagrin" he said "They had concerns about the hardship of such a career".
During college Vida majored in theater arts then studied at the Boston Conservatory. At nineteen years old he danced his way around the world with Chaka Khan's Carefree Summer Fest Tour before heading to New York where he worked off Broadway and Broadway appearing in Toast of Mr. Zigfield, 42nd St, Singin' in the Rain and others. Vida was also part of an Emmy Award winning team that produced "The Mole People: Life in the World Below" (Discovery) and has earned numerous film, television and commercial credits. And he added "I'm still working twenty five years later"
After hearing "great things" about Providence, Vida is looking forward to returning to the city he hasn't visited in nearly fifteen years. And he had a message for those attending a performance of The Drowsy Chaperone. "I will guarantee you an hour and forty minutes of sheer joy. You will be pleasantly surprised."
The Drowsy Chaperone is running May 6 - 11, 2008. Tickets for all shows can be purchased at PPAC's Box Office window and by calling (401) 421-ARTS from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon - 5 p.m. on Saturdays; or visit ppacri.org to purchase tickets any time.
Frances Syner is the Theatre and Film Columnist for The Federal Hill Gazette.
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