My One and Only is a fun and fanciful musical filled with planeloads of high comedy, dazzling dancing, and several of the Gershwin brothers’ best tunes. Surprisingly, this particular Gershwin play opened on Broadway in 1983, nearly fifty years after the immortal George Gershwin’s death. The tunes are culled from a variety of Gershwin shows and include My One and Only, Strike Up the Band, ‘S Wonderful, Funny Face, and Nice Work If You Can Get It. The witty book by Peter Stone and Timothy S. Mayer is an affectionate tribute to the innocent romantic musicals of the 1930s with a strong nod to the early Fred Astaire/Adele Astaire stage version of Funny Face that also featured a Channel swimmer and a pilot.

Starlight has brought David Brannen and Alexandra Auckland together again, two of San Diego’s most talented musical stars who are quickly becoming the most popular pairing in local musical theatre. They also starred together in last year’s Me and My Girl as well as Gershwin’s Crazy For You at the Starlight. This year David is the unassuming, hick pilot Billy with big dreams and a big crush on high society superstar Edythe played by Alexandra. But does he really have a chance with her? In a radio interview, Edythe reveals what she wants in Boy Wanted. The list includes: He must be able to talk (well, when he first saw her his only words were blah, blah, blah, but that’s a form of talking, is it not?). He must know how to say “Yes!” when I look at a new dress (well, he can do that so long as he’s not paying for it). He must know how to woo (the smooth Mr. Magix Ron Christopher Jones will give him some wooing pointers). He must wear snappy clothes (see Mr. Magix). There’s no glory in having a hick (Mayday! Mayday! This is bad. But Billy Buck’s in love, and hick or not, he’s not going to give up quite that easily.). Unfortunately, to make things even harder for poor Billy, Edythe already has a boy – but one she doesn’t want. The rich, exploiting, and obsessive Russian Prince Nikki (Charles Jackam) keeps her at his side via blackmail, and he holds all the cards (or, in this case, all the compromising photos).

David Brannen has a humorous, humble, but hopeful demeanor, an ace dancing ability, and a Fred Astaire-like toothy smile to match. Alexandra Auckland has a singularly stunning voice (both in her singing and talking), as well as a million-dollar grin that can have hicks and princes alike going to extraordinarily lengths to get her. Together the two demonstrate terrific chemistry, seen especially with their ‘S Wonderful, light-hearted, romantic romp on a deserted beach filled with charming banter and lots of playful splashing as the two kick up their heels on the surf.

Other highlights include a comical courtship between Billy’s gruff mechanic Mickey (Ria Carey) and Edythe’s conniving Prince Nikki (Charles Jackam), some zealous sermonizing by Ken Bryant, a bit of humorous tutoring by Ron Christopher Jones, and some great musical stylings by The New Rhythm Trio (Sam Cavanaugh, James Ellzy, and Red Savage) as well as the Ritz Quartet (John Martin, Brian Imoto, Ruff Yeager, and Kurt Norby). But the most notable highlight is some of the best dancing you’re going to see all year by a crack cast of hoofers led by David, Alexandra, Ron Christopher Jones, The Dancing Gentlemen, and a school of Fish. Directors/Choreographers Jack Tygett and Joyce Shumaker have put together some incredible dance numbers that allow this highly talented group to strut their stuff including the tapping and splashing in the surf, a big red bubble dance, a bit of belly dancing, and a ton of tap that runs the gamut from graceful and romantic to quick and electrifying.

Wally Huntoon’s stage designs capture the right feel with both romantic sets (the beach and the moonlight) as well as fun, cheesy props like the brightly-hued two-dimensional plane and a much smaller plane-on-a-pole that actually flies around in the air (so long as someone is carrying the pole). Costume Designer Kathy Auckland’s creations include some great 1920s outfits, exotic ensembles for the belly dancers, a supremely stylish suit and tie for Mr. Magix, and a wedding gown that nicely combines elegance and the flapper style.