Under its enigmatic title lurks a remarkably entertaining little show. The Drowsy Chaperone is a droll Canadian import that's part homage to the musical theater, part spoof. Narrated by the unnamed Man in Chair (Bob Martin), the show basically reenacts a 1920s musical named "The Drowsy Chaperone." This allows the creative team to match an inspired collection of familiar 1920s types---the flapper (Sutton Foster), the cad (Troy Britton Johnson), the zinger-slinging diva (Beth Leavel), the Latin lothario (Danny Burstein), the zany character actors (Georgia Engel, Edward Hibbert)---with witty, well-crafted pastiches of songs of that era. Penned by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, the tunes are instantly hummable, while the ensemble cast is uniformly superb---you know the standard is high when the awesome Sutton Foster doesn't even stand out that much. Thankfully, the "meta" concept doesn't lead to arch-irony and detachment. A genuine affection for what makes musicals so fun shines throughout, making this a real keeper of an album. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

More of the Big 2005-06 Musicals

The Color Purple	Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Revival Cast)	The Pajama Game
Jersey Boys	The Wedding Singer	Tarzan