KISMET. The new Encores! season began last night with an entertaining revival of the 1953 musical Kismet, which I enjoyed with three friends. If you are interested in attending and you haven't already gotten tickets, look into it right away. We had bargain-priced nosebleed seats that were adequate, but if you shell out for any seats that might be available close to the stage you'll probably be able to see a little more of the action and discern many more words. Discounts on some tickets are available through Playbill and Theatermania.

So what's it all about? Kismet is the story of a quick-witted poet (Brian Stokes Mitchell) who has a very, very, very lucky day in an old Broadway version of old Baghdad. Based on music by Alexander Borodin with songs by Robert Wright and George Forrest (who worked on the MGM operettas of Nelson Eddy and Jeannette MacDonald), Kismet might best be interpreted as a lighthearted burlesque in which the clever central character exploits the foolishness of those around him to make a good life for himself and his daughter. This production left me hungry for more of that burlesque quality, but there was still a lot to savor...and it's likely that things will click more as the production makes its way through its weekend run.

Stokes does good work with his role, previously played by Alfred Drake on Broadway and Howard Keel on film. Drake, Keel, and Stokes all played the leading man in Kiss Me, Kate too, so it's in fitting that Stokes's romantic counterpart Lalume is played by his Kiss Me, Kate co-star Marin Mazzie, who reminded me of the wonderful Dolores Gray (who played Lalume in the movie version) as well as the brassy Betty Hutton. I was glad we had opera glasses to take the full measure of Mazzie's splendor. Danny Rutigliano was an energetic delight in the supporting role of the Wazir.

The sets for this production were more rudimentary than has been the case in many past Encores! productions; also, as suggested above, some of the staging was unkind to those in the nosebleed seats. The dancing was a little rough around the edges early in the evening, but it improved considerably after the intermission. I am puzzled, though, by the martial arts-inspired choreography for The Three Princess of Ababu. If they're going to end their displays by brandishing sharp, deadly objects at onlookers (including their intended husband), it would make sense for the onlookers to react accordingly, as if they were personally threatened. That would make for a good running gag, so I hope the Encores! people will get on it right away.

Spotted by one of my company: Stephen Sondheim, an associate of Encores! music director Paul Gemignani. In this memorable New York Times Magazine article, Sondheim identifies Alfred Drake's performance in Kismet as one of his very favorite star turns and also lists songs he wishes he'd written. Sondheim is the composer/lyricist of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962), which bears a family resemblance to Kismet.

BONUS: Kismet production photos featuring Stokes and Mazzie.