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Some Enchanted Evening This year's Tony Awards ceremony included a salute to the music of Richard Rodgers. The praise and cheer is due to this being the Richard Rodgers Centennial year. Various theatre companies around the country are celebrating this. Here in the DFW metroplex we have Plano Repertory Theatre (PRT) mounting of a revue of Rodgers and Hammerstein songs with Some Enchanted Evening, which is an evening of their biggest hits, and some of their lesser known songs thrown in for kicks. Since I have a dislike for revues in general, as well as for most of the musicals in the Rodgers and Hammerstein catalogue, the whole idea made me uneasy to say the least. The end result of this musical revue is a mixed bag. The first act is fresh, vibrant, unique, and charming, as well as an interesting take on the music, while the second act falls right into the very pothole of why I am not a fan of musical revues. Act one takes place backstage where we see various people of the tech crew (seamstress, carpenter, props mistress, etc.) doing their tasks. The company manager's cell phone rings throughout the act informing her that each "performer" will not sing that night, so she begs, pleads and drags these very tech people into the missing performer slots. This situation creates some touching, exciting and humorous takes on various songs and the verses within them. It provides new light and fun to songs we have heard hundreds of times. It's this act that makes the evening not a typical revue, but instead just pure enjoyment to watch unfold. But sadly the second act goes straight into the paint by number format that again makes me not like these "greatest hits" packages. The second act is the actual show, so we have song after song with nothing connecting them, no transitions. Just people singing under pretty lighting. The production is backed with impressive singing, majestic piano accompaniment by maestros Mark Mullino and Keith Critcher, and tasteful direction by Michael Serrecchia. Serrecchia truly displays his enjoyment of the format within act one with the transformation of everyday Joes into stage performers. The use of sound effects that come from tasks such as hammering, running a sewing machine, etc. is ingenious. It is especially fun to see the various love interest couples mix and match as the act progresses. Serrecchia has also staged some visually enchancing numbers that add a nice new coat of interpretation paint to these songs, such as the washing of wigs for " I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair," a new gay twist on "Maria" and others. The director also deserves gold stars for keeping that pace going, especially in act one. I particularly appreciate how the first act has only snippets or sections of songs, whereas the second act's pace is weighed down by too many songs being performed all the way through. Musical Director Mullino uses the voices within the company to fulfill the best outcome for the music, matched only by his magnificent piano playing and razor sharp musical ear. The use of mixing the darker vocals with the lighter ones adds variety and richness to the texture of the music. Both Mullino and Keith Critcher tickle the ivories with class, taste, and provide a satin sound blanket for the singers to lay their voices onto. Each performer has his or her moment to shine and comes equipped with a solid set of vocal pipes. Jacob Villarreal creates a soothing pop vocal sound in a new interpretation of "Some Enchanted Evening." He earns laughs for his take on such songs as "Maria" and "A Fella Needs A Girl" and provides sentimental strength to the ballad "Younger Than Springtime." Jay Taylor brings forth a large and booming baritone voice that provides great emotional effect in Billy Bigalow's "Soliloquy" from Carousel. Taylor also creates a haunting mood with the dark "Lonely Room." The singer adds cornhusk charm to "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" as well. Candace Evans is Nellie, the Company Manager of the show that keeps losing its original performers. Evans joins Amy Stevenson and Dara Whitehead in my personal favorite company number of the evening - the aforementioned "I'm Gonna Wash Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair." Evans also sings "Shall We Dance?" with beguiling confusion. I found particularly moving her facial expressions over the unreturned affections she has for Taylor. Amy Stevenson fashions comic joy with her characterization of the seamstress in this show within a show theme. She provides humorous takes on such songs as "I Cain't Say No," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair," "I Enjoy Being a Girl" (With Evans and Whitehead), and finally her duet with Whitehead, "Sixteen Going On Seventeen." The actress/singer renders touching emotion on such ballads as "I Have Dreamed," and "Something Wonderful". Dara Whitehead, with her gorgeous, clear soprano voice provides the best solo of the entire evening with "Out of My Dreams." She simply sings the song gently, with her voice softly gliding on the notes like silk. She sustains the higher notes with a delicate vibrato that is simply ravishing to hear. Whitehead also has enjoyment with such songs as "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "A Wonderful Guy," and she moves the audience with my favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein ballad, "If I Loved You" (with Taylor). The design elements are all complementary to the production as well. Costume designers Marilu Gonzales and Michael Robinson dress each tech person properly, and their second act gowns are the cherry on top. Bryan Wofford's backstage stage set looks realistic and his second "stage" design of stark white allows the array of colors from Laura McMeley's design to splash beautifully onto the actors and stage. Those who are fans of Rodgers and Hammerstein will simply enjoy this trip down the memory lane that leads to the great classics of musical theater. Some Enchanted Evening runs through June 30 at PRT, The Courtyard Theater, 1517 H Ave. Plano. Call 972-422-7460 for tickets and info Some Enchanted Evening: The Music of Rogers & Hammerstein Cast |
