Sometimes when you see a revival of a show that was a big hit several decades ago it makes you wonder "why was this so successful?" Either the subject matter doesn't hold up or the production or cast isn't that great. I'm sure in 40 years when there is a revival of The Book of Mormon, theatre goers might wonder what people were smoking in 2011 for that show to garner such praise. However, with the case of Born Yesterday, there is no reason as to why this show ran on Broadway for over 4 years in it's original run, why there have been two movies based on the play and why this is the second Broadway revival of the show. Written by Garson Kanin, it has a well crafted plot with three great lead roles, several nice supporting parts, some witty dialogue and a perfect ugly ducking story at the center.
The story centers on shady scrap metal millionaire, Harry Brock, who comes to Washington D.C. with his ditsy girlfriend in tow and his plans to bribe a congressman to pass legislature to help his business. Billie, the girlfriend, is a former chorus girl, and Brock realizes that, even though he loves her, her ignorance might get in the way of him succeeding in his plans. He hires a reporter to help educate Billie and by doing so, Billie begins to understand exactly how corrupt and uneducated Brock actually is and how she can get in the way of what he is trying to achieve in D.C.
Nina Arianda
For the current Broadway revival, Nina Arianda is making a smashing Broadway debut as Billie. Not only did she get a Tony nomination for her work but she also received nominations from all of the other major theatre awards and won (in a tie) the Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance. Now I've never seen a production of this show before or any of the films, and I know that Judy Holliday who played the part in the original 1946 production as well as the 1950 movie won the Oscar for her performance (beating out not only Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard but also both Bette Davis and Anne Baxter who both were nominated for All About Eve) so she must have been great in the part. But Arianda so effortlessly makes this part her own, you truly believe she once was a chorus girl (in Anything Goes no less) and once she got associated with Brock stayed with him, even though he was mainly using her, because it was the best thing that ever happened to her, or at least she thought it was. When she starts to expand her mind, she realizes what she is missing, and Arianda perfectly captures this thirst for knowledge and eagerness to grow. You literally see her character change between act one and act two in not only the way she speaks about things, but the way she carries herself as well. It's almost like My Fair Lady without the diction classes and English accents.
Jim Belushi is Brock and he manages to play the lovable teddy bear who can also be abusive and nasty extremely well. He is harsh and strong when talking about his business dealings but melts when professing his love for Billie. Robert Sean Leonard as the reporter who educates Billie, is both low key and direct in his dealings with both Billie and Brock and the way he underplays this is in perfect contrast to the loud Brock.
Robert Sean Leonard, Nina Arianda and Jim Belushi
The hotel suite set by John Lee Beatty is both stylish and period perfect while Catherine Zuber's costumes, especially those for Billie, are gorgeous and beautiful as well as help in showing Billie's transformation. In act one they are all bright and sexy but in act two they are more business like and smart. I don't think I've ever seen a pair of glasses more effectively used to show how someone is intelligent, than in this production.
Director Doug Hughes should be congratulated for making an old chestnut seem fresh and for getting such great performances out of this cast. I can't wait to see what Nina Arianda does next.
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