Theater Review : ‘B.L.T.’: Stacked With Young Talent

LA HABRA —  It’s been done before--casting an adult story with kids. It worked beautifully in the film “Bugsy Malone,” featuring a pubescent Scott Baio. It works almost as well in Diane Christensen’s adaptation of Gary White’s “B.L.T.,” with the La Habra Depot Theatre’s Young Actors Company.

There are some sharp corners that never get smoothed out in a cast ranging in age from 7 to 17, but Christensen’s direction is sharp throughout, her tempos jingle merrily, and a couple of times one is tempted to forget the cast’s youth.

Billed as a “swingin’ revue of music from the roaring ‘20s,” the musical’s plot is as venerable. It’s the kind of story Alice Faye, Don Ameche and Tyrone Power used to revel in.

When Little Sally (Danielle White) discovers some ancient artifacts--a straw hat, a ukulele--in her Grandpa Pookie’s (Adam Milano) attic, she sets him foraging about his memories, beginning with his college days in the Jazz Age.

Young Pookie (Mike Posey) is in love with dashing Daisy Fitzgerald (Smita Nagak), but Daisy is head-over-heels for Teddy Rhapsody (Josh Cloud), who soon becomes a famous crooner.

Daisy becomes a Ziegfeld star, but by the time movies become talkies, both she and Teddy are going downhill, reduced to dubbing voices for film stars with thick accents. Of course, Pookie follows Daisy throughout her ups and downs.

*

It’s all tongue-in-cheek, and most of the memorable old songs, from “Ain’t She Sweet” to “Bye Bye Blackbird” have the right flavor. Particularly in the group numbers, the company does well.

Individually the leads also do very well. Seven-year-old White is an imp of a granddaughter Sally, and 17-year-old Nagak’s sweet soprano fits her material to a tee. Cloud’s pompous crooner is very informed by touches of Rudy Vallee, and Joy Posey’s speak-easy owner by a Texas Guinan flavor.

The real standouts are 16-year-old Milano’s gentle grandfather, who sparkles when recalling one of his vaudeville numbers, “Don’t Bring Lulu,” and especially the very talented 11-year-old Mike Posey, who really carries the show, has a strong pop voice and knows his way around a stage and an audience.

* “B.L.T.,” La Habra Depot Theatre, 311 S. Euclid St., La Habra. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Ends Sunday. $8-$10. (310) 905-9708. Running time: 1 hours, 20 minutes. Mike Posey: Young Pookie

Adam Milano: Grandpa Pookie

Smita Nagak: Daisy

Danielle White: Sally

Josh Cloud; Teddy Rhapsody

Carey Posey; Helen Starlight

A La Habra Depot Theatre production of Gary White’s young people’s musical. Adapted and directed by Diane Christensen. Produced by Margie Carpenter, Linda Milano. Musical direction: Carlene Woerner. Choreography: Ronna Atkinson, Diane Christensen. Orchestration and recording: David Turner. Scenic/lighting design: John Nokes. Costumes: Gina Strelow.