Robert Creighton as the legendary James Cagney
                                            Photos by Carol Rosegg.

                                            by John Ruesch

Cagney is making its New York debut now at the York Theater, a hidden
away gem of a theater below the Citibank mega tower in the mid East fifties. Fans  of movie icon Jeams Cagney, and those unfamiliar with him, will come away enlightened and in love with the character as amazingly personified by Robert Creighton

An extremely well crafted biographical journey through the Depression and World War Two, the McCarthy era and beyond, Peter Colley’s fast paced book reveals many unfamiliar details about the life and career of the great actor, and all American song and dance man, singer, and kid from the streets of New York.

Conceived by and starring Robert Creighton in the title role who, as a young actor, was told  that he bore a physical resemblance to Cagney. Upon studying Mr. Cagney he became obsessed by him and has channeled  his facial expressions, body language, voice inflections and, above all, his energy as exhibited by Creighten’s great ability to tear up the stage tap dancing with an explosion of all American exuberance to tunes like the ones Cagney is most associated with:  George M. Cohen's “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “Its A Grand Old Flag.”

But Cagney is better known as a movie tough guy. He tried mightily to remove himself from the iconic  image he created.  “I am not a hoodlum, a bum”…but with the notable exception of “Yankee Doodle Dandy” which drew upon his earlier dance experience in vaudeville (his Mom taught him the Peabody) it chased after him and remains to this day.

Robert Creighton and Jeremy Benton as Bob Hope

His segue from vaudeville to Hollywood introduced him to such friends as Bob Hope, played by the versatile Jeremy Benton, who, in addition to tapping terrifically, tosses out jokes in his snappy style.

Mr. Creighton portrays Cagney's sheer joy and pride and enthusiasm, marching off to war, then returning to entertain the men at the front under the banner of the grand stars and stripes waving above just as the real James Cagney had inspiring thousands of war torn and hungry Americans
struggling with the War just as his movies played a role in diverting people from the Depression years earlier.

Peter Colley’s finely crafted book, which reveals the trials
and tribulations of Mr. Cagney's career naturally and clearly with a
minimum of dialogue smoothly taking us from one great musical number
to the next. It all makes chronological sense and reveals the relevant
turning points of Cagney's story.

Bruce Sabath as Jack Warner with Danette Holden

The most influential was a love/hate relationship with Jack Warner of Warner Brother Studios, played (and sung) very well by Bruce Sabath who spotted and capitalized on Cagney’s urban street smart potential that lasted through Cagney’s life, ultimately presenting him with his Lifetime Achievement award by the Screen Actor’s Guild

Most of the score of Cagney is new,  by Robert Creighton in conjunction with Christopher McGovern and all are finely tuned songs with melodies and lyrics  that are relevant to the storyline and blend seamlessly with the

George M. Cohen wartime tunes incorporated into the score.

The show is sleekly directed by Bill Castellino, who shows a great flair for the material and makes the most of the limited York space.

Production elements elevate the show, with evocative costumes (by Amy Clark) taking the lead, and artful lighting (Brian Nason) and scenery (a smalltown movie theater by James Morgan) and Mark Pirolo’s evocative projections help tell the story.  Sound by Amy Clark is unobtrusive and clear.

 

L-R: Danette Holden, Jeremy Benton, Robert Creighton, Ellen Zolezzi and Josh Walden

But it is celebrated choreographer Josh Bergasse, who has two shows on Broadway this season, Gigi and On The Town (for which he received a Tony nomination) whose magic touch graces the whole production and creates a rousing finale which gives Cagney the send off it deserves.  

The York Theatre Company
Saint Peter's Theatre, enter 54th St just   East of Lexington
(619 Lexington Avenue)
212-935-5820
YorkTheatre.org
running Time: two hours, 20 minutes with intermission
Thru June 21