The talented singers of Some Enchanted Evening at the Center for the Arts
February was a great month for stage theatre in town, with Jekyll and Hyde: the Musical at Murfreesboro Little Theatre, Adopt a Sailor at Out Front on Main. Hairspray at Oakland High School, and Some Enchanted Evening at Center for the Arts.
Some Enchanted Evening was actually an enchanted afternoon, with my buddy Rusty Chappell and me sitting back and hearing the glorious music of Rodgers and Hammerstein. With arguably five of the finest voices in Murfreesboro performing for what was on this particular Sunday afternoon a sold-out sea of blue and white haired patrons, we were mezmorized by about 34 of the most exquisite show songs ever written.
My deepest kudos to Kinsey Brewer, David Cummings, Fran Gebuhr, Cindy Lamb and Rachael E. Parker for giving the Center a professional, rare and incredible performance of about two hours of some of the most beautiful live music I have heard at this venue. The upper crust of culture was in our presence. My hat is off to Director and Musical Director Dennis Pessar, and Andre Yohe, whose pianos were simply marvelous. A most wonderful set of red, white and blues gave an incredible contrast to the singers, and it was indeed worth the long standing ovation received at the end.
On Stage at Schools
With the City’s four high schools getting ready to perform their Spring ’11 Music and Arts performances, Oakland High was first with Hairspray. Director April Gunter’s class of about 32 were ready for this John Waters classic, and each seemed to enjoy their part and played the show to the max to a receiving audience. My hat is off to Bekah Thoe, perfection as Tracy Turnblad, Austin Duke as Link Larkin, and David Cunningham as Edna Turnblad. I wish there were room for each name in this terrific play. I enjoyed each of them, and the music, lighting and set were well done. Sometimes the music was a little loud, drowning out the actors. Hopefully, this was taken care of by the second night of the performance. I am looking forward to Riverdale, Blackman and Seigel’s performances in the next few months.
Kelly Northcutt Hayes, Nathan Leavitt and John Mack Green in Adopt a Sailor
An Awkward Adoption
Director Bob Fish put on a very good show with Adopt a Sailor at Out Front on Main last month, a different piece of work that involved a sailor on leave who stays with a husband and wife who do not like each other. The shy sailor, played magnificently by Nathan Leavitt with his charm, innocence and naivety, brought a warm atmosphere into the home, cold with the on again-off again thick air of Richard and Patricia, played beautifully by John Mack Green and Kelly Northcutt Hayes.
Although the play itself seemed slow at times, Mr. Fish worked hard with this dramatic comedy to bring his players into real-life focus, thus bringing clarity to emotion and giving the audience a sense of want, a sense of desire and a sense of love, all being directed outward by a young country boy dressed in white military who wanted nothing more than to feel needed. One of the better shows I have seen at Out Front, it was clean cut, forceful and still had that edge that Out Front loves to produce. A beautiful set, the lighting and music were just right.
A Crowded Lair
Jekyll and Hyde: the Musical was a step in a different direction at Murfreesboro Little Theatre. Dark, dank and full of magical props, the set was incredibly on cue, realistic and rather spooky. Shane Lowery directed and produced this awesome work, and is to be commended for the large undertaking. Sold out houses each night watched newcomer Dalton Reeves take center stage as a most riveting Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. His presence was commanding, and the large cast (too large perhaps) worked extremely well under his lead. The cast of 17 plus an ensemble of 18 were prolific, yet I winced at the amount of trouble they had to go through not to fall over a prop, or even more, an audience member almost literally sitting on the stage itself. Todd Robinson is to be commended for the special effects; they were the best I have seen at MLT. And Arabelle Pollick worked wonders with the choreography, especially with the limited space provided for the actors and dancers.
Emily Lowery as Emma Carew has a beautiful singing voice, and it made up for several voices that were at times flat and rough. She and Gary Davis (Sir Danvers Carew) had a most beautiful duet, and I also enjoyed Veronica Hanner’s (Lucy Harris) solo in Act One.
As usual, Charlie Parker and Kathy Quarto provided the most excellent live music anywhere in town. The score was perfect, as were the tone and sound. Not once were they so loud you could not understand the actors. The costuming was beautiful and realistic, and the lighting was just what one would have expected in Jekyll’s lair. The blend of actors/characterization could not be beat. MLT never fails to dazzle, and a low bow to all involved in this piece of work.
Playing in March
The Homecoming, directed by Dr. Richard Hansen, opens the curtains at MLT on March 11, and runs two weekends. 27 Wagons Full of Cotton plays at Out Front on Main March 3-13, and The Pillowman runs March 10–17 also at Out Front. Center for the Arts will run The Robber Bridegroom March 11–27.
In Memory
I lost another great friend in the theatre this past month in Waynesboro, Va. Duane Hahn was 64 and taught drama and theatre for 33 years. He was president of the Waynesboro Players for many years and was an accomplished author, actor, director, producer, writer and singer. His legacy will remain in that town and in the state of Virginia forever. He was loved and cherished by everyone who knew him. I will miss him immensely.
