OGUNQUIT — The show now playing at the Ogunquit Playhouse is “Bullets Over Broadway.” The show is a musical version of the film by the same name written by Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath. 

There are basically two different kinds of musicals, those that are plays with music and those that are heavy on music and light on either drama or plot. Bullets is the latter and it is entertainment with a capital “E.”

The plot may be thought of as a clothesline on which to place a goodly number of songs and dance routines. In this case, the songs are all taken from the decade of the 1920’s and what great songs they are. 

The story line centers around a gangster, Nick Valenti (Vincent Pastore of the TV Sopranos) who loves a talentless girl, Olive Neal (Jemma Jane.) Olive wants to star in a Broadway show. To please his girlfriend, Nick tells Julian Marx (Kenny Morris) who represents struggling playwright David Shayne (John Rochette) that he will produce his clients show with the provision that Olive will have a role in the show.

This “understanding” is the first of many compromises that Julian will have to make to get his show produced. As insurance that no one will get too close to Olive, Nick asks his chief “hit man” Cheech (Reed Campbell) to be present at all rehearsals. A cast is soon assembled which includes one Helen Sinclair (Michelle Ragusa) an established star but whose recent efforts were flops and who has a drinking problem. 

During rehearsals Cheech starts making suggestions which become more than occasional suggestions and the play soon becomes Cheech’s more than David’s. Cheech believes that Olive is a threat to “his” show and kills her, and Nick realizes that Cheech is guilty and kills him. A humdinger of a finale follows.

Along the way with this story line, there are numerous affairs that take place in the cast. The most significant is the manner is which Ms. Sinclair seduces David. When David tries to break up with his girlfriend Ellen (Bridget E. Yingling) she confesses that she has fallen for Sheldon Flender (Justin Jutras) David remarks “Why he is a communist. Worse, he is a vegetarian!” (It seems to me that is the kind of line that only Woody Allen could have written.)

I did not mention one actress by the name of Sally Sturthers who adds to the zaniness as a member of the cast. As in any good musical show, and this is really a great musical show, each character has one significant song to sing.

Warner (John P. Almon) has a significant duet (Lets Misbehave) with Olive (Jane.) Olive struts her stuff (this is an accurate statement) early in the show with the suggestive song “The Hot Dog Song.” While Nick may be the central character, with the exception of one song early in the show, “Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good to You?” has few lines in the show proper.  To rectify this, during the finale he sings “Yes, We Have No Bananas.” as part of a rousing finale. 

While Sinclair (Michele Ragusa) may be but one significant role in the show, every time she sang a song, it literally stopped the show and brought forth significant applause. One song was “There’s a Broken Heart for Every Light on Broadway” and “She’s Funny That Way.”

David (John Rochette) may be the central character, and I would state that while he did everything very well, I thought that he was acting in a show and was not convinced that he owned that part. His best effort occurred in the second act with the song, “The Panic is On.”

No such reservations could be stated with Ms. Struthers who delighted one and all as soon as she appeared on the stage. She really put over the song “There’s a New Day Comin’”

Cheese, (Reed Campbell) really impressed with his singing of “Up a Lazy River” and also “’Taint Nobody’s Buz-ness If I Do.” 

Ellen, (Yingling) a relatively minor character) impressed with “I’ve Found a New Baby” and “She’s Funny That Way.”

Julian (Kenny Morris) added much with his lines (“I smell money.”) He scored a success with “They Go Wild Over Me.”

The corps of singers and dancers added ever so much with their many numbers.

The directing and choreography was superb (Jeff Whiting), the instrumental group conducted by Robbie Cowan sparkled throughout. The show runs through July 29. If one wants to see a really good Broadway Musical, this is the show to see. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Dr. Gold is a composer/conductor, retired educator and an arts reviewer for the Journal Tribune.