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CABIN IN THE SKY
(Regional
Premiere)
Book by Lynn
Root
Lyrics by John
Latouche
Music by
Vernon Duke
Lyric Stage
REVIEWED 10/14/06 PERFORMANCE
Directed & Staged by Bruce Wood
Musical Direction by Gary Okeson
Scenic Design by Wade Giampa
Costume Design by Diane Simons
Lighting Design by Susan A. White
Sound Design by Bill Eickenloff
CAST:
Petunia Jackson....................Eleanor T. Threatt
Little Joe Jackson.................Vince McGill
Lily.......................................Doris Howard
The Lord's General...............Marcus M. Mauldin
The Head Man......................Wilbur Penn
Georgia Brown.....................Crystal Williams
Parson Green........................Billy Poole
FleetFoot..............................Gabriel Lawson
Dr. Jones/Domino Johnson...Bryan Pitts
ENSEMBLE...........................Malcolm Beaty, Charlet Dupar, Ashley
Duplechain, Kia Dawn Fulton, Durant Searcy.
_____________________________CABIN IN THE SKY_________________________
Lyric Stage (which resides at the Dupree Theater in Irving) is the only
theater company in Texas that produces lesser known musicals as well as
never before seen productions. They took SUNDOWN to New York a few years
ago and this season will produce the world premiere of THE WINNER. One
my all time personal favorites from Lyric's past was the marvelous
ABYSSINIA.
Not many cities, let alone entire states, can boast that they have a
professional theater company that devotes their seasons to rarely seen
musicals as well as world premieres from up and rising composers. That
speaks volumes on the depth of cultural taste as well as the talent we
have within this metroplex.
The current offering from Lyric is the musical CABIN IN THE SKY, which
bowed on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theater in October 1940 starring
the great Ethel Waters. The musical would play for only 156
performances, closing March 8, 1941.
CABIN is a simple morality tale of a wife who prays to god, asking him
to help with her philandering husband and marriage. The husband dies,
and whose soul is fought between heaven and hell-both are
represented by spokesmen. The devil's spokesman is "The Head Man", while
heaven has the "Lord's General". They agree to send Joe (the husband in
question) back to earth for six months. In that time he must be good, or
else he becomes a citizen of Hades.
Lyric's mounting is the first production ever produced since its
original Broadway run. To make it even more special, Lyric received a
grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for producing this
rare revival.
The first major difference between the original and the current is the
sizes of their casts. The original production had over 40 performers,
Lyric's contains 14- but they sound like 40!
The score has also been dramatically altered. For Lyric's version, five
songs from the original first Act are gone (such as "The General's
Song"; " Dem Bones"; and "Holy unto the Lord") and several news were
inserted, such as "Wade in the Water". Lyric closes its first act with
"Do What You Wanna Do", but in the Broadway version they closed with a
reprise between our marriage in trouble leads.
The second act also has a couple of songs missing, with the original
closing with "Savannah", in place for that at Lyric they do a resounding
reprise of the title song.
Alas though the book here is extremely frayed and diluted. At times the
book goes on & on, with no song. It does not supply enough subtext or
allow the characters a firm grasp of their character arcs. Instead it
races through scenes to get to the finale. The score is a concoction of
jazz, gospel, and blues. A few are the songs are terrific, but so many
of the songs end abruptly. Just when the song gets going
it stops dead in its tracks.
Visually the show is quite lovely. Wade Giampa's set frames the
proscenium with a wicker like design. Giampa pays homage to the old days
of musicals by creating painted backdrops that give the production a
sweet tinge of history. The floor is painted as well in a colorful
pattern that matches the backdrops. Susan A. White's lighting design is
top notch as well, especially with the fantasy scenes.
It should be noted that Bill Eickenloff's sound design is superb for
this production. Not once did we hear body mics popping, fizzing, nor a
hint of feedback. You could hear clearly every note, every lyric, and
every line of dialogue.
Kudos also goes to Gary Okeson's wonderful musical direction, with
tempos and volume matching the company note for note.
Out of the principals, Eleanor T. Threatt delivers a powerful,
emotional, and riveting performance as "Petunia", the wife of the
cheating husband. She shows deep compassion, love, and support for her
husband, no matter how bad he is. Threatt (in the Ethel Waters role)
commands the stage with several songs that leave you speechless. She
earns loud resounding applause for such show stopping numbers as "Cabin
in the Sky", Taking A Chance on Love", and my personal fave - "Love
Turned The Light Out". In that song, Ms. Threatt creates vocally a soft
blanket of voice with soothing jazz licks that work wonders within the
song. Ms. Threatt is brilliant in this production.
As the two comic leads, Marcus M. Mauldin and Wilbur Penn are swell and
highly entertaining. Mauldin is from Heaven, dressed all in white, who
gives the role dignity and authority. Penn has wicked fun with the first
Act closer "Do what you Want to Do" as he works the stage like a
Vaudevillian pro. Plus you can't beat a shower of red glitter to close
your number! Both actors have festive fun with the roles, and it shows.
Crystal Williams gives the right amount of sass and attitude as the town
tramp, "Georgia Brown". She even gets to do a little hoochie momma
shimmy dance in the first act to entice poor Joe! Ms. Williams (another
superb singer) has humorous fun with her big solo, "Honey in the
Honeycomb".
The ensemble for this production deserve a standing ovation for
providing some of the most beautiful singing I have heard all year. This
small company sing three big, gospel numbers with splendid harmonies,
crescendos, and booming volume that just take your breath away. Oh, and
all three of those numbers are done Acappella! From the sorrowful "Wade
in the Water" to the high, energetic "Great Day", this ensemble shines
brightly!
This solid ensemble comprises of Malcolm Beaty, Charlet Dupar, Ashley
Duplechain, Kia Dawn Fulton, Doris Howard, Gabriel Lawson, Billy Poole,
and Durant Searcy.
CABIN IN THE SKY does show its age in abundance and has not stood well
in the test of time. The book is unfocused and the score is uneven.
Having said that, it is still remarkable to view musical theater's past
history thanks to Lyric. We as an audience get to see before us the past
live on stage musicals that no longer are produced-even with all its
errors and mistakes. To view history like this is a rare treat for
theatergoers. That's why you should take a ticket and see this musical.
Plus if you want to hear some of the most exquisite singing being done
on a metroplex stage today, then rush to Lyric Stage now!
GRADE: B
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CABIN IN THE SKY runs through October 21, 2006 at the Irving Arts
Center's Dupree Theater, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Irving, TX.
Performances are Oct 19, 20 and 21 @ 8 PM & Oct 21 @ 2:30 PM. Tickets
are $23 for Thursdays and matinees and $29 for Friday and Saturday
evenings. Tickets are available online
www.lyricstage.org or by calling
972-594-1904.
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