I loved Daniel Radcliffe in Equus, but I wasn't prepared to love him even more in the first-rate new revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

We caught the show a week ago from the box, stage right, and were absolutely wowed by how perfect the look, energy and performances were. I'd go so far as to say it was one of my most enjoyable Broadway experiences, along with Chicago and Cabaret, and a good example of how to do vintage musical theater—full speed ahead and with intelligent emphasis on the aspects that are still au courant.

Mad(ly Ambitious) Men

Effervescent Radcliffe is J. Pierrpont Finch, a young man who's ambitious like Jayne Mansfield is busty—but is far less obvious about it. Excepting his gleeful grins to the audience every so often, he's quite the undercover overachiever at first. Studying a how-to book on his way up the corporate ladder, he sings and dances his way from the mailroom to the board room—and all over everyone in his path. Even his love interest, plucky secretary Rosemary Pillkington (Rose Hemingway), finds herself cast aside during various inconvenient moments.

Finch's biggest target is his boss, J.B. Biggley (John Larroquette, making his Broadway debut at 63), but the only one fully on to his remorseless lust for power early on is Bud Frump (Christopher J. Hanke), Biggley's spoiled nephew, who's only against unfair business practices when they don't include nepotism.

Bud, Hanke's a decidedly unfrumpy Frump

Radcliffe is sensational, more than making up for his merely passable chops (though his "I Believe in You" is beautiful) with an effortless physicality throughout the show's surprisingly energetic dance sequences conceived by Tony-deserving director/choreographer Rob Ashford. He should be too young for the part, but his pocket-sized look works hilariously against Larroquette's soaring stature and also belies Finch's out-sized chutzpah. Some of the stunts he performs without hesitation elicited gasps at the show I attended. (Sexy Michael Park as Mr. Bratt nearly tumbled into the orchestra pit during one late-in-show pratfall, which cracked up Larroquette and Radcliffe momentarily during the same performance.)

Would Biggley be a birther today?

Larroquette is a true pleasure to watch, his Biggley hilarious in his crookedness and in his loafing, leisurely approach to work as opposed to his imperial take on management.

Together, the men create two can't-miss show-stoppers in "Grand Old Ivy" and "Brotherhood of Man," the latter of which is expertly uplifted by the supporting cast, all gifted singers and eye-popping dancers. Speaking of which, especially entertaining are Ellen Harvey as unflappable Miss Jones, Hanke as the ultimate self-entitled douchebag and Tammy Blanchard (pictured) as the gold-digging, hip-swaying Hedy La Rue—she's doing a mixture of Marilyn Monroe and Jennifer Coolidge with utter conviction.

I never got around to seeing Ashford's Promises, Promises, but I understand this is very much in that vein. I would venture to guess this takes his everything-old-is-new-again approach to a new plane, however, because the thunderous applause at night's end couldn't have been mistaken for the overzealous appreciation of a few Harry Potter fangirls.