She's A Star! "42nd Street" Comes to Stockton, With Melody Davi

Tony and Kathy Davi issued the invitation months ago: their daughter, Melody, touring with Big League Theatrical's revival version of the quintessential tap-dance musical, "42nd Street," would come as close to Sacramento as Stockton in its national tour. Would I like to come see her perform? Absolutely! Melody has always been among the strongest performers I had ever seen, and she was only getting better as she got stage experience. I eagerly looked forward to November 22nd, the date of the performance.

Melody succeeded her sister Mara as the lead actress and dancer, Peggy Sawyer, in the national and international tour of "42nd Street." It's quite unusual that sisters succeed each other as the lead, but then, great musical talent sometimes flows in families (veteran Mara is instead doing 'White Christmas' in Boston this year).

The venue was the Bob Hope Theatre in downtown Stockton. I got lost trying to locate the theater, so I stopped at a pizza joint for directions. The fellow behind the counter said the theater was only a few blocks away and that I couldn't miss it because it was all "litted" up (I like that word, "litted.")

The theater was very pretty: awash in neon outside, and very art deco inside, and, Tuesday evening, it was packed with an excited audience. The big problem for the show, however, was that the stage was quite small. According to Kathy, the stage was about the smallest of the entire national tour, so the cast would be doing its "C" version of the show - and a very cramped version of its "C" show too: many flys would be absent, and there would be no awesome dancing on steps at the end. (After the show, Tony remarked on how many changes to the ensemble dancing had been made, apparently with no noticeable problems, in order to adjust to the small space: a mark of true professionalism on the part of the cast.)

None of this really mattered to me, though. I was there to see Melody perform, whatever the drawbacks might be. In the lobby, I loaded up on the "42nd Street" CD, and the T-Shirt, and the souvenir program (I turn into an uber-consumer at emotional times like this). Sacramento musical theater folks were there: Andee Thorpe, Brian McCann, a number of RSP folks. A big contingent of Melody's friends and relatives from the Folsom area were there too.

What a glorious, glorious show! Strong, strong dancers and performers, with Melody leading the way! The first, big attention-grabber, for me, was the endurance tap sequence in Act I, Scene 2 ('Go Into Your Dance'). Very hard to do, but Melody and fellow dancers made it seem so - effortless! Just one of many, grueling, apparently effortless dance numbers ('With Plenty of Money, and You,' 'Montage,' etc.) Then, there were all the classic songs ('I Only Have Eyes For You,' 'We're In The Money,' 'Lullaby of Broadway,' 'Shuffle Off To Buffalo,' and, of course, '42nd Street.') Throughout the entire second act, tears filled my eyes, it was so beautiful.

Afterwards, a scrum of friends, fans, and relatives waited out back, where the trucks were being loaded and where the buses were idling, waiting to take the cast and crew to tomorrow's show in Bakersfield. Everyone wanted pictures and autographs, and to say hello. The avalanche of well-wishers and memories must have been a distracting, emotional experience for Melody.

I greeted Melody, gave her a bouquet, kissed her on the cheek, took a photo of her, and kissed her again on the cheek. I told her I missed her, and she reciprocated by saying likewise.

It wasn't until ten minutes later, however, when I was moving around on the periphery of the group, that Melody really saw and recognized me. Then I kissed her on the cheek again, took another photo of her, kissed her on the cheek again, etc.

How odd! It was like some kind of wacky science experiment. What can possibly push Melody Davi's facile brain into the "Red Zone?" Is it:

Q.) hours of white-hot tap-dancing with world-class professionals, on stage, in front of many hundreds of people?

A.) No. Not even close.

Or is it, instead:

Q.) dozens of life-long friends, relatives and admirers, armed with flashing cameras and clamoring for attention all at once in the dark AFTER hours of white-hot tap-dancing with world-class professionals on stage, in front of many hundreds of people?

A.) Yes, at least until the clamor dies down a bit.

Melody really IS a star these days, and Stockton saw the proof, last night! Try to coordinate your travel schedule with the national tour if you can: you will be amazed! Melody has posted the tour schedule at her Web Site.


Ray Fisher and Melody Davi.