STAGE REVIEW : SERIOUS PRODUCTION OF ‘THE MOST HAPPY FELLA’

The new California Music Theatre has wisely opened its first season at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium with a show that we don’t see every day, Frank Loesser’s “The Most Happy Fella” (1956).

The reason why we don’t see it every day is obvious.

Coming off “Guys and Dolls,” Loesser wanted to write a serious Rodgers and Hammerstein-type musical drama--a kind of American verismo opera.

His vehicle was Sidney Howard’s 1924 drama “They Knew What They Wanted.” The story concerns an invalid Napa Valley winegrower (John Raitt in the Pasadena production) who discovers that his mail-order wife (Linda Michele) has become pregnant by one of his ranchhands (Laurence Guittard).

Plenty of passion there, all right. Take the scene where the distracted bride is led off into the barn by the ranchhand two minutes after she has married his boss. Puccini would have told us what she was going through. Loesser gives us the ranchhand crooning a Dick Haymes-style number called “Don’t Cry.” It’s not enough.

The harder this show tries to get above its station, the less convincing it is. Happily, it is often content to relax and be a snappy 1950s Broadway musical--a decade when Broadway really knew what it was doing. Numbers like “Standin’ on the Corner” and “Big D” and “I Made a Fist” have the brashness that we love in American musicals, and director Gary Davis stages them appreciatively, like a collector shining up a favorite old car--not necessarily a classic.

Music director Larry Blank gives the same loving attention to Loesser’s score. It’s a shame that the show has to be miked: even so, some beautifully nuanced sounds come out of Blank’s pit orchestra. And out of his chorus, particularly in “Song of a Summer Night,” with its memories of the Brahms Liebeslieder waltzes.

Clearly, the California Music Theatre intends to take the “music” part of its title seriously.

John Raitt’s casting is in keeping with that. Raitt may be getting up in years (he’s close to 70), but his voice still rings out sweetly and truly. There’s also a sense that he’s got plenty more voice left than he’s giving us, which hasn’t been true of some of the ex-opera stars who have sung in this show. Even in a cumbersome ballad like “My Heart Is So Full of You,” he’s a pleasure to hear.

Do we take him for an Italian? Not for a minute. But he makes an extremely engaging stage Italian, and maybe the fact that we know it’s an act (not that he tips it) adds to the fun. Raitt understands what to take seriously in this tale and what not to, and this brings a lightness that, again, other stars have missed. He should be able to play Tony for a long time.

The bride’s role calls for a legitimate soprano, and Linda Michele has the voice for it. Also the face and the figure. She’s as sympathetic and plucky as can be, and we can’t blame Laurence Guittard too much for his dastardly behavior as the ranchhand, particularly since it only happened once.

Lisa Robinson and Wayne Bryan are on hand as those two staples of 1950s musical comedy, the tall brash gal and the timid little guy. Both performers pretend that their roles were invented just yesterday, and find a surprising amount of fun in them. “I don’t like this dame,” sings Robinson to herself as Tony’s sister (Deborah McClung) keens of impending tragedy, and we bless Loesser for keeping at least a good portion of his show in the vernacular.

The show’s physical design (sets by David Gibson, costumes by Pamela Johnson-Gill, lighting by Ward Carlisle) serves the purpose, but isn’t particularly distinguished. In sum, the show and the production probably deserve no more than a B, but it’s a solid B.

The California Music Theatre knows its craft and its audience. It will be around for a while.

Its next three shows this season are: “Call Me Madam” with JoAnne Worley (May 7-17); “The Desert Song” (Oct. 8-18); and “She Loves Me” (Dec. 10-20.) Subscription information is at (818) 356-SHOW.

‘THE MOST HAPPY FELLA’ Frank Loesser’s 1956 musical, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Presented by California Music Theatre. Director Gary Davis. Choreographer Patti Colombo. Music director Larry Blank. Set design David Gibson. Costumes Pamela Johnson-Gill. Lighting Ward Carlisle. With John Raitt, Linda Michele, Laurence Guittard, Wayne Bryan, Lisa Robinson, Deborah McClung, Jack Ritschel, Carl Packard, Michal Connor, Michael Vodde, Scott Wedekind, Joseph Foronda, William Sawyer, Jerry Fischer, David Ryer, April Dawn, Ian Fryman, Jeffrey Gerstein, Shawn Maxfield, John Addis, Lisa Dryden, Doug Kirkpatrick, Ric Mount, Rachelle Ottley, Jim Ruttman, Snowy Winters, Leslie Woodies, Karen Benjamin, Nora Frank, Kathy Lench, Lena Marie, Andrea Massion, Susan Mieras, Grace Sagara, Sue Roberts Sharp, Leslie Tinnaro, Barbara Wright. Plays Tuesdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., with Saturday-Sunday matinees at 2. Closes Sunday. Tickets $10-$35. 300 E. Green St., (213) 410-1062.