On The Town in Paris

Global Around Town Senior Travel Correspondent Charles Douglas Wingate just saw an amazing production of Bernstein's, Robbins', Comden's and Green's first hit that catapulted them from obscurity to overnight sensations: ON THE TOWN. This English language (French supertitles) show at the Theatre Chatelet runs through Jan. 4, and if one is a musical theater historian, or just a Broadway Baby, this show is not to be missed. The show of course wisely uses the original Robbins choreography from Dec. 1944 (its Broadway debut date), and the cast is superb, with top notch singers, dancers and actors (mostly Aussies and Brits, with one "A-muruh-kan") in sets and costumes that creatively re-create Manhattan just before the War ended. This is one "American in Paris" NOT to miss, if one is in town. I saw the pretty good Broadway revival sometime within the last decade (showcasing the marvelous Lea DeLaria as the great distaff cabbie, Hildy) and this Parisian confection easily tops that last one. Maybe someone will get smart and just bring this new version to NYC, but to play it safe, hop over to the City of Lights.