Guys in harmony at Metropolis

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Matt Edmonds,( from left), Patrick Tierney, Lauren Creel, James Nedrud in "The Andrews Brothers."

Updated: January 23, 2012 3:35AM

What if those swinging Andrews siblings had been guys?

At the Metropolis, for the next month or so, you can find out.

A rambunctious 2005 musical comedy, “The Andrews Brothers,” by Roger Bean, celebrates not only the glorious three-part harmonies of the famous singing sisters but also the American ingenuity when it comes to putting on a show when the stars are no-shows.

The premise of “The Andrews Brothers,” set in 1943 on an unnamed island in the South Pacific, is that Patty, LaVerne and Maxene Andrews will not be able to entertain the troops at a U.S.O. show thanks to a case of chicken pox that keeps the famous trio in Hawaii. Fortunately, a trio of male stagehands steps up to the challenge, and into wigs, dresses and high heels.

Top ’40s tunes

“One of the reasons this show spoke to me was because of the music, which features over 25 period songs,” said Metropolis artistic director Robin M. Hughes of Grayslake.
“And the fact that it is a musical-comedy farce makes it appealing to all ages.”

The play features Lauren Creel of Buffalo Grove as Peggy Jones, Matt Edmonds of Downers Grove as Max Andrews, James Nedrud of Chicago as Lawrence Andrews and Patrick Tierney of Tinley Park as Patrick Andrews.

All are veterans of previous Metropolis productions.

Only one male cast
member, James Nedrud, has had prior experience dancing in heels on stage, having appeared in a production of “La Cage Aux Folles.”

“One of the first questions was do we have to shave our legs? And the answer was ‘yes,’ ” he said.

Creel is the sole natural-born female in this cast. It’s a show she’s enjoying, because, she said, “My grandfather served under Patton and I have always had a fascination with World War II.”

Creel said she hasn’t been asked for any tips from the guys about how to portray women.

Topping it off

“I get a kick of watching them try to do certain things like walk in heels or flirt with their eyes,” she said. “But I think it adds to the charm, so I don’t think they need my help. They’re actually doing a good job. The boys have been talking about whose breasts are going to be bigger, like a competition. I think the frontrunner is ‘Patty.’ ”

Actor Patrick Tierney, who has appeared in six shows at Metropolis, said the first pair of heels he ever put on was a few weeks ago at rehearsal. He doesn’t consider his current role a drag.

“Not at all, it is a
silly, hilarious, very challenging show. The second act is pretty much song after song after song,” he said. “They make a joke that all three of us Andrews sisters have laryngitis, and we don’t have to speak. So people are supposed to buy why we are singing in a lower register. I think people will be howling.”

Hughes said the male cast — a bass, a baritone tenor and a tenor — will not be camping it up as the Andrews Sisters. Much. “They are truly trying to convince their USO audience that they are the Andrews Sisters,” he explained, “because that would have disheartened the troops otherwise.”