Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting and dining with Robert Creighton, the co-composer and inspiration of Bay Street Theater’s current production of “Cagney: The Musical,” in which he plays the star and film legend of the 1930s and ’40s, James Cagney.
His resemblance to Cagney is striking, though I wondered whether he seemed too sweet and gracious to portray the tough New York gangster I remembered from Hollywood classics like “Angels with Dirty Faces,” with its line, “Mornin’, gentlemen. Nice day for a murder!”; “The Public Enemy,” where Cagney famously shoves a grapefruit into Mae Clarke’s face; “White Heat,” where he cries, “Made it, Ma! Top of the world!”; and “Taxi,” often misquoted as “You dirty rat,” though the actual line is, “Come out and take it, you dirty, yellow-bellied rat.”
To be fair, James Cagney is a daunting role for any male actor, and Robert Creighton had big shoes to fill. He succeeds with charm, wit, and impressive theatrical skills, exceeding expectations in his portrayal of the late, great movie idol. And can Creighton dance — tap dance, that is! He and the rest of the ensemble prove themselves true triple threats, able to sing, dance, and act, a rare combination these days.
Bay Street’s production of “Cagney: The Musical,” directed by Will Pomerantz and choreographed by Jeremy Benton, traces the life of James Francis Cagney Jr., born in 1899 to poor Irish immigrants on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and his rise to Hollywood fame. His father, a bar owner who drank heavily, died when Cagney was young, while his mother, “Ma” Cagney, played wonderfully by singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester, was a strong, level-headed woman who taught him to stand up for himself and fight injustice. That bond likely shaped and motivated many of his choices throughout his life.
As the story unfolds, young Cagney’s dream of attending Columbia University on a full art scholarship is derailed by his father’s untimely death. He auditions for vaudeville, lands a role, meets his future wife, and begins his career on stage. Before long, while performing on Broadway, Warner Bros. chief Jack Warner, played brilliantly by Bruce Sabath, brings Cagney to Hollywood with a seven-year film contract, launching both his career and the struggles he would face throughout his years in the movie business.
“Cagney: The Musical” reveals the striking contrast between the tough-guy roles Cagney often played and the man he truly was: intelligent, artistic, quiet, and willing to speak out when his values were challenged. Devoted to his family, he was married to his wife, Willie (Audrey Cardwell), for 66 years and was gifted not only as an actor but also as a song-and-dance man who could tap dance like nobody’s business. He was also an amateur boxer and semi-pro baseball player. Still, he longed for more meaningful roles and wanted to break free from being typecast as a gangster or bad boy.
The musical’s greatest strength is its brisk, fun, theatrical flow, with quick scene changes, many of which relate to familiar historical moments. Its score blends original songs with familiar George M. Cohan standards such as “Give My Regards to Broadway,” “Grand Old Flag,” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” giving the evening a patriotic vaudeville snap. Some of the audience’s favorite numbers are when Cagney and Bob Hope (Michael Starr) team up, especially during their USO tours performing for the troops during WWII.
Overall, “Cagney: The Musical” is a lively, high-energy crowd-pleaser, well timed for Bay Street Theatre as America celebrates its 250th birthday. In today’s divided political climate, it’s an uplifting production that reminds us that, like Cagney, we can be complex people with toughness, grace, and a strong sense of justice. He was a star who could throw a punch on screen, then tap his way straight into the audience’s heart.
“Cagney: The Musical” is running now until July 26th at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. For tickets, visit baystreet.org or call 631-725-9500.