Manilow's 'Copacabana' Play Dazzles

You've got to feel kind of sorry for Barry Manilow.

Yes, I know: He's immensely talented, has sold millions of records, racked up tons of awards and is no doubt rolling in money. What's to feel sorry for?

The guy gets absolutely no respect. People who like his music are ashamed to admit it; people who claim not to like his music simply adore bad-mouthing him (I once had an acquaintance who referred to him as "Barely Man-Enough," and believe me, this guy was not one to be casting aspersions on someone else's masculinity, or lack thereof).

But Manilow's latest entertainment venture, the musical comedy "Copacabana" (or, if you want to get really proper about it, "Barry Manilow's Copacabana"), should go a long way toward gaining the guy the respect that he deserves.

"Copacabana" is based on Manilow's 1978 hit song of the same name. (It's not to be confused with a 1980s TV movie that dramatized the same story and starred Manilow, Annette O'Toole, Joseph Bologna and Estelle Getty.)

This production stars Darcie Roberts as Lola, Franc D'Ambrosio as Tony and Philip Hernandez as Rico -- the three characters who are mentioned by name in the song.

Roberts, D'Ambrosio and Hernandez turn in sparkling performances, particularly Roberts (pictured, right, with Beth McVey), who has some trouble maintaining an Oklahoma accent but still makes Lola a larger-than-life figure.

But two of the supporting players -- Terry Burrell as Conchita Alvarez, Rico's erstwhile girlfriend, and Gavin MacLeod (yes, that Gavin MacLeod) as Sam Silver, the owner of the Copacabana nightclub -- steal the show whenever they appear onstage.

Burrell (pictured, left) dazzles as Rico's aging paramour, particularly in the song that opens the show's second act, "Ay Caramba!"

And the 70-year-old MacLeod (pictured, below, with McVey) puts to rest all thoughts of either Murray Slaughter or Captain Stubing (his beloved characters on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Love Boat," respectively), providing expert comic relief as the good-intentioned Sam Silver; he comes close to stealing the show in the number "Who Am I Kidding?" (and be sure to keep your eye on him at the end, when the entire company assembles onstage to sing "Copacabana" -- the guy's amazingly light on his feet and is obviously having the time of his life).

The show's sets and costumes are also dazzling. Early in the show, Stephen (Tony's modern-day counterpart) describes the characters as wearing "no gray, no beige, no brown -- just like an MGM movie," and indeed, the jewel-tone colors and the Art Deco-inspired sets are magnificent. Manilow has accurately described the show as a "love letter" to the Technicolor movie musicals of the 1940s.

It all more than makes up for a necessarily slight story, replete with corny jokes: When you're creating a musical comedy based solely on a hit song, it's not like you've got a lot to work with, frankly.

But it doesn't matter. "Copacabana" is a wonderful night at the theater and more than worth putting aside any misplaced Manilow prejudices. Let the respect begin ...

The 40-city "Copacabana" tour continues through next year. Here is a partial list of tour dates; the entire schedule is available by clicking here:

• Oct. 10-22: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul
• Oct. 24-29: Merriam Theatre, Philadelphia
• Oct. 31-Nov. 5, Lyric Opera House, Baltimore
• Nov. 14-19: Hershey Theatre, Hershey, Pa.
• Nov. 21-26: Landmark Theatre, Richmond, Va.
• Nov. 28-Dec. 3: Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence, R.I.
• Dec. 5-17: Shubert Theatre, New Haven, Conn.
• Dec. 19-23: Naples Philharmonic, Naples, Fla.
• Dec. 26-31: Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Fla.
• Jan. 9-28: American Musical Theatre of San Jose, Calif.
• Jan. 30-Feb. 4: Sacramento (Calif.) Light Opera
• Feb. 6-11: McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, Calif.
• Feb. 13-18: Fifth Avenue Theatre, Seattle
• Feb. 20-25: Pasadena (Calif.) Civic Auditorium
• March 6-18: Denver Center for the Arts
• March 20-25: Aladdin Theatre, Las Vegas
• March 27-April 1: Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, Iowa
• April 3-8: Fox Theatre, St. Louis
• April 10-15: Jackie Gleason Theatre, Miami
• April 24-May 6: Dupont Theatre, Wilmington, Del.
• May 8-13: Weidner Center, Green Bay, Wis.
• May 15-20: The Bushnell, Hartford, Conn.
• June 12-17: Starlight Musical Theatre, Kansas City, Mo.