Yorba Linda CLO Knows ‘How to Succeed’

In her wonderful memoir, “A Most Remarkable Fella,” Susan Loesser surprisingly notes that her father, composer-lyricist Frank Loesser, was dissatisfied with his work on the 1961 hit musical that made Robert Morse a star, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”

It was not, he felt, the complete work of musical art that “The Most Happy Fella” was. It was too much at the service of the book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, who adapted the story from businessman-author Sherman Mead’s book “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”

Never mind the great box office, the Tonys, the Pulitzer and other booty the show picked up. To the composer, this was lesser Loesser.

It’s impossible to fathom such a view today, especially when “How to Succeed” is given such a lively, spry and precise revival (on a budget) as the ever-improving Yorba Linda Civic Light Opera is serving up at the Yorba Linda Forum Theatre.

From the upbeat, ironical opener “Hot To,” director Joshua Carr pumps up the show’s acidly satirical attitude toward American corporate life, while keeping a sharp sense of comic timing--strongly abetted by generally fine casting and disciplined group choreography by Crystal Burden. And the engine keeping it all humming was built by Loesser.

When he is served as well as he is here, one is reminded why Loesser was a genius of musical comedy. The early Act 1 breakout number, “Coffee Break,” when the worker units at World Wide Wicket panic when the office coffee pot is empty, is a great number despite having nothing to do with the main plot of J. Pierrepont Finch’s (Kevin Noonchester) rocky rise up the corporate ladder. Here, it expresses the craziness under the placid company surface.

The show’s brilliance emerges in two tunes--”Hot To” and “I Believe in You”--that Loesser employs for double purposes. The first song is Finch’s jump-starter and, later, the anthem for the company secretaries. The second is Finch’s self-pep talk in the men’s room and, later, girlfriend Rosemary’s (Eden Espinosa) love song to Finch. Few composer-lyricists have displayed such limber virtuosity.

Carr makes it pulse like a new show, absolutely not like a Broadway museum piece. He’s helped by a cast having a load of fun, led by the bright-eyed Noonchester, the lovely singing of Espinosa, the over-the-top sexiness of Erin Granahan as bimbo Hedy La Rue, and two actors playing the show’s comic opposites like their lives depended on it: Christi Kline as loyal secretary Smitty (delectable on the show’s most charming tune, “It’s Been a Long Day”) and the gifted Jeff Wilson as the conniving, universally despised Bud Frump. Wilson makes it hard to imagine a nastier, funnier Bud.

Music director Peter Morris’ band is a bit ragged in spots (though very tight with the jazz and blues touches sparked by Marie Kelly as Miss Jones), and a few key castings, such as John Francis as company boss J.B. Biggley, aren’t up to the show’s standard. But the standard itself is high enough that other civic light opera groups should take note: On a budget, this is how to succeed.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

* “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” Yorba Linda Forum Theatre, 4175 Fairmont Blvd. Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. Ends May 31. $10-$18. (714) 779-1932. Running time: 2 hours, 35 minutes.

Kevin Noonchester: J. Pierrepont Finch

Eden Espinosa: Rosemary Pilkington

John Francis: J.B. Biggley

Christi Lane: Smitty

Jeff Wilson: Bud Frump

Erin Granahan: Hedy La Rue

Marie Kelly: Miss Jones

Frank Rich: Bert Bratt

Jim Trebilcox : Mr. Twimble/Mr. Womper

A Yorba Linda Civic Light Opera production. Music-lyrics by Frank Loesser. Book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert. Directed by Joshua Carr. Musical director: Peter Morris. Choreographer: Crystal Burden. Costumes: Connie Papple and Susan Griffin. Lights: Greg Habelow.