Theatre review by DON FOWLER

The final show of Theatre By The Sea’s summer season fills the stage with some of the most stirring ensemble dancing you’ve ever seen.

The lights dim. The curtain opens. And the thoroughly talented ensemble sets the bar high by dancing to the title song.

You know the old story: A young and naive dancer from Allentown comes to Broadway to become a star. She barely makes it into the dance company, but she bumps into the star during the final rehearsals, breaks his ankle, and takes her place at the premiere.

Set in the 1930s, it’s full of corny jokes and an even cornier story that you have to sit through to see those “dancing feet” perform wonders to the fabulous dance numbers.

Laura Guley is very good as Peggy Sawyer, a talented dancer and actress, and Patrick Ryan Sullivan fits perfectly in the role of show producer Julian Marsh.

It was lovely to see Trinity and Gamm actor Taavon Gamble as an integral part of the ensemble. The ensemble of dancers are the star of this show, and after they perform their final routine and take their bows, they come back to wow the audience again with a spectacular encore.

The Theatre By The Sea’s costumes, sets and house orchestra add to the glamour of the production.

The songs range from the powerful “42nd Street” and “Lullaby of Broadway” to the silly “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” and “We’re in the Money.”

Some of them are in the screeching and nasal style of the ’30s, which can be a bit jarring, but you get goosebumps when Sullivan plays his solo on “42nd Street.”

So tolerate the old-fashioned book and enjoy the dancing feet that carry this show to great heights. “42nd Street” runs through September 15 at the Theatre By The Sea. For tickets, call 782-8587 or buy online at www.theatrebythesea.com.