Something Jazzy This Way Comes (The Portal Players)
Queenie A Musical
Book and Lyrics by Jack Wann
Music by John Campbell and Marty Rosen
Review by Regina Harris
Entire contents are copyright@2026 by Regina Harris. All rights reserved.
The Portal Players premiered Queenie, A Musical, Friday night, opening to an appreciative crowd at The Bard Theater. Think Guys and Dolls meets Macbeth, complete with jazzy music, mischief, malapropisms, and a collection of endearing stock characters. It’s ridiculously cute, fun, and delightfully clever entertainment. Playwright Jack Wann, well-versed in both Shakespeare and gangster movies, clearly had a delightful time bringing the two together.
The score, written by John Campbell and Marty Rosen, and performed by Queenie’s Hot Quarto, is perfectly suited to the production. It delivers just the right jazz-age atmosphere, punctuating the action without overwhelming either the script or the intimate space. Kudos to John Campbell, Richard Dietz, Tom Dillard, and Landon Dawson for a terrific musical contribution.
The first thing you’ll notice about this production is the costumes. They are superb, and everyone wears them beautifully. They’re just theatrical enough to establish the visual identity of the place without distracting from its smart script. From the moment the action begins, the audience is transported into a world of flappers, gangsters, and 1920s New Jersey.
Tracey Dunn as Dunkin the Dude, immediately captures the audience’s attention with a commanding stage presence and magnificent voice, all wrapped up in a stunning silver suit. The Weird Sisters, played by Lethia Nall, Danielle Eckert, and Leigh Ann Barcellona, set the scene in fine flapper fashion, introducing us to rival gangster club owners, Max and Queenie and their battle for control of the street. They are a charmingly mischievous trio and set up Queenie’s magnificent entrance beautifully.
Marjorie Ann Marshall captivates as Queenie, the head-honcho gangster herself. She bursts onto the scene bringing a delicious mix of swagger, authority and vocal power to the role. Her rival Max, superbly portrayed by Tom Ording, is all slick swagger and streetwise charm.
Heidi Whitlow perfectly cast as his sidekick Banksy, is a fast-talking, malapropism-slinging gangster, whose mouth sometimes moves faster than his brain. Together they make a ton of fun.
Providing a chorus of familiar vintage movie characters are: Gregory Haynes as Flush Feeny, a good-hearted cowboy in Act One and good- hearted gangster Rip Duffy in Act Two; Snack Shack Lil, a wise-cracking waitress (Lauren White); the requisite ditzy blonde, Pumpkin (Peyton Franson); and the sophisticated and wealthy Mrs. Gotrocks, (Rena Cherry Brown) whose comic presentation deserved a few more sassy lines. Rounding out the cast was Susan Brooks as Malcolm the Mooch (Dunkin the Dude’s son and potential heir) who doubles as Fleabag, a street urchin in Act Two. Each actor brings their own spark, making the
whole cast an absolute blast to watch. Especially fun and familiar Sudsy, the red-nosed, perpetually tipsy Sudsy capably played by danielle rogers-candee.
Opening night jitters were somewhat evident in Act One, but as the cast warmed up, the clever Shakespearean nods and updated twists tucked into snappy dialog landed well. The only thing this cast needs is the confidence to recognize that they solidly own these characters. Certainly, that will occur in subsequent performances.
Queenie is an entertaining musical that reminds us that Shakespeare doesn’t have to be presented in a doublet and tights to be appreciated. It is a playful celebration of the characters, language, and timeless storytelling that the Bard left us. His words and catchphrases have survived for centuries, and Queenie gives them a jazzy new place to call
home. Something wicked this way swings and The Portal Players make it one heck of a good time.
Queenie, A Musical
The Portal Players
November 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21 @ 7:30 PM
The Bard Theatre
511 Burnett Ave.
Louisville, KY. 40217
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