“Silk Stockings” a revival of the musical, original book by George S. Kaufman, Leueen MacGrath, and Abe Burrows.  New book revision by Stuart Ross.  Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter.  Now being presented by Musical Theatre West at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton, Long Beach, through November 23, 2008, 562-856-1999, www.musical.org  Ticket prices:  $30-$58

The cost of producing musicals has risen so greatly that theatre groups are unlikely to take risks on lesser known musicals.  We are often given productions of musicals like “Hello, Dolly!” or “Fiddler on the Roof” because they reduce risk.  So it was with anticipation that I went to the Musical Theatre West production of the rarely produced “Silk Stockings”.  I am happy to report that it is a delightful evening that will put a smile on your face and have you walking out of the theatre in a happy mood.

Silk Stockings is based on the 1939 film ”Ninontchka”.  The story is about Nina, a devout Communist, who is sent to Paris to rescue great Soviet composer Peter Illych Boroff, who has succumbed to the decadence of capitalism in Paris.  Boroff, who in Russia wrote such compositions as “Ode to a Tractor”, is writing a score to a joint Soviet/American film musical.  Boroff has been smitten by the film’s star, Janice Dayton.  Seeing Nina as a threat to his film, producer Steven Canfield launches a campaign to teach Nina the advantages of capitalism.  Along the way they happen to fall in love because, after all, this is a musical, and all ends happily.   

Produced originally in 1955, Silk Stockings was Cole Porter’s last Broadway musical.   He did go on to write two film scores (High Society and Les Girls) and one television musical (Aladdin).  Though it ran for 477 performances, it is rarely produced, unlike Porter’s other hits, Anything Goes and Kiss Me, Kate.  The score is typically filled with the Porter wit with songs like the ballads “All of You”, “As On Through the Seasons We Sail”, and two exceptional comedy numbers in “Stereophonic Sound” and “Siberia”. 

The real star of this production is director/adaptor Stuart Ross.  Usually when these old lessen known musicals are revived, the adaptors cannot resist adding hit songs to the shows.  They are often forced and ineffectual.  That doesn’t happen here as Mr. Ross allows Mr. Porter to have his say.  The only tweaking of the score is the addition of “I’m Taking the Steps to Russia” (from Leave it to Me) and the replacement of the maudlin “Without Love” with the lovely “What Is This Thing Called Love?” (written for Wake Up and Dream).  He has successfully updated the time to 1960, while maintaining the spirit and comedic genius of Ninotchka.  He also wrote one joke about Alaska that brings down the house.

In today’s economic times it is admirable of Musical Theatre West to take a risk and show its audiences that there are other great musicals from the Golden Age of Musical Comedy that deserve reviving.  One can only hope that Silk Stockings is successful and will spawn more like it.  There are still revivals of shows like Panama Hattie and Roberta waiting in the wings.  Thanks, Musical Theatre West, for taking a risk and bringing Silk Stockings back to life.  -  Larry Blake