The supernova and Mr. Delicious have their big love scene to “S’Wonderful.” Rather than sing their feelings, Ms. O’Hara said, she and Mr. Broderick engage in “a silly kind of Astaire/Rogers moment, but with the kind of abilities we have which are more—”
“Limited,” said Mr. Broderick.
“It’s light-hearted,” Ms. O’Hara said. “There’s a love story, but there’s shenanigans all over the place.”
The Observer: Tell me about the shenanigans.
Mr. Broderick: The shenanigans in the show? She brought it up.
Ms. O’Hara: I’m not even one of the big shenaniganers.
Mr. Broderick: Yes you are.
Ms. O’Hara: Shenaniganizers.
Mr. Broderick: Shenanigist.
Ms. O’Hara: I am a shenanigist from way back.
Mr. Broderick (sounding hurt): You pour soup on me. You steal my hat, briefly. My wallet.
Ms. O’Hara: Oh, there’s so many shenanigans.
The shenanigans, soup-dumping and “S’Wonderfuls” add up to an idyllic portrait of the ’20s, where, Mr. Broderick said, “everybody’s drunk and rich.”
“I like the ’20s,” he said. “Just not the dentist. Everything is so romantic, but at some point you’re going to end up in Dr. Heischman’s chair, with the slow big old drill. It’s not all fun, the ’20s. Their teeth, pulled out with pliers. Think of it!”
No musical could ask for a better foundation than a Gershwin score. If everything else falls into place, Nice Work If You Can Get It should prove to be the polar opposite of pulling teeth.
editorial@observer.com
