Publisher's Synopsis
A loving homage to Eugène Labiche and the High Vaudeville style he was instrumental in establishing a century and a half ago. "Breathless fun! A highly accomplished effort, a smart comic machine that hurdles its characters from one amusingly improbable scenario to another ... HAT simultaneously detonates a dozen tiny plot points like some stage supercollider." -Los Angeles Times "A witty, footloose crowd-pleaser! Dennis McCarthy's appealing new music is redolent of the hurdy-gurdy and D'Oyly Carte. Strand's lyrics exude period feel and extend the comical biz. His ITALIAN STRAW HAT boasts what many others have lacked, an eminently playable text with polished but never stuffy dialogue." -Variety "Exhilarating ... Stylish and inspired ... Lightning-paced entertainment that looks and sounds sensational and keeps us rolling with laughter in the aisles ... This riotous romp is a show for all seasons." -Backstage