FIRST LADY SUITE
At the Connelly Theatre, 220 E. Fourth St.; (212) 868-4444. Through April 18.
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FIRST ladies used to provide excellent opportunities for fantasy. At least they did in Michael John LaChiusa’s “First Lady Suite,” which first appeared in 1993 and is now being revived in a funny production directed by Jack Cummings III.
There are four sections, dealing with Jackie Kennedy, Mamie Eisenhower, Bess Truman and Eleanor Roosevelt.
The part involving Jackie (Robyn Hussa) centers on two secretaries – Jack’s and Jackie’s flying into Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.
The episode shows LaChiusa’s dramatic cleverness and smarts. If only it were matched by his music – here, it’s unmelodic and best suited to long, anguished meditations.
That’s clearest in the episode about Mamie (Cheryl Stern), who careens drunkenly alone in a limo around D.C. on her birthday in 1957.
The Truman bit is pure comedy. Bess (played by a man, James Hindman) keeps interrupting an inept concert by her daughter (Ruth Gottschall).
The final fantasy sketch is more serious. Here we find Eleanor (Mary Beth Peil) aloft in a plane piloted by Amelia Earhart (Julia Murney).
Crouched in the rear of the plane is journalist Lorena Hickock, superbly sung by Mary Testa.
In a haunting performance, Testa gets the cynicism, sarcasm and jealousy of the woman, who climbs out on the wing to sing of her love for Eleanor.
Despite its unhummable score, “First Lady Suite” is a memorable piece of theater, full of wit and wonderful performances.