Refashioned from Samuel Shipman’s one-week B’way flop SHE MEANS BUSINESS* (with the ‘business’ changed from Ladies’ Handbags to Theatrical Costumes to make a ShowBiz ‘Crazy Comedy’), there’s some nice backstage flavor in here (think Mel Brooks’ THE PRODUCERS), but director Lloyd Bacon has all his comics work at fever pitch, yelling themselves hoarse and outstaying their welcome. It’s exhausting. Likeable Winnie Lightner, the heart & brains of her own costume company, takes time off to be Mom to little Dickie Moore while hubby Walter Miller runs down the company and off with a secretary. Can Winnie revive things by fooling bickering comedy team/producers Smith & Dale with a delusional Russian stage genius she’s hooked onto? Think of all the costumes they’ll need! Hiding among the rat-a-tat-tat delivery, Charles Butterworth’s calm comic style makes a mark, and Bobby Watson’s flaming designer is a non-PC hoot. But even at a short 75 minutes (and missing the original 2-Strip TechniColor), this soon wears out its welcome.
DOUBLE-BILL: While backstage musicals always work to some extent; backstage farces prove less hearty. Hits like ROOM SERVICE (Marx Brothers/‘38) and Michael Frayn’s superb NOISES OFF (flattened by Peter Bogdanovich in '92) barely hint at their comic potential.
SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: *Opening 01/26/31, BUSINESS is but footnote to another play opening that night, GREEN GROW THE LILACS, a rural dramedy musicalized 12 years later as OKLAHOMA!
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