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Montgomery College Theater serves excellent food, 'Side by Side' entertainment
By
DAVID DOW BENTLEY III
“The
People’s Critic”
(The Courier
07.21.01) | This
year's show is the revue, "Side By Side By Sondheim,"
featuring a wide variety of music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
(Dinner and show --$20.00. Reservation Information:
936-273-7021) Presented in the Commons Building of the college,
the show was preceded by a lovely dinner. Guests had a crisp
garden salad with Italian dressing, a medley of steamed
vegetables with wild rice, and an entree choice of Orleans
Chicken (prepared with a sauce of artichokes and mushrooms), or
Swedish Meatballs. Sugared pastry with strawberries and whipped
cream was a delightful finish with coffee or tea. Then, it was
on to the main course: A delicious Broadway revue of the
extensive Sondheim repertoire.
The show was ably directed by Jami Hughes, with outstanding
assists from Musical Director/pianist, David Englert, and his
fellow pianist, Caleb Ackerman. The opening selection,
"Comedy Tonight" (from A Funny Thing Happened on the
Way to the Forum) was a bright, cheerful tune. It was well
executed by the youthful six-member cast, which included
director Hughes in a rare appearance on the stage side of the
footlights. The great harmonies of the song's conclusion were a
promise of things to come. The ensemble gave more melodic
delight with a "Love Is In The Air" that featured
gentle, effective choreography. The simple but effective set and
lighting design (David Marco) included just a few stools, and a
foil ribbon curtain.
Ms. Hughes' students and talented fellow actors were Wesley
Fruge, Leslie Harlton, David Kerr, Christy Mooring and Holland
Vavra. They were well prepared for the many very difficult
Sondheim selections on the bill. The first vocal for Hughes came
in her charming "If Momma Was Married" duet (from
"Gypsy") with Holland. If the pair was a bit too
cutesy at times, they made up for it in the smooth blending of
their voices. Sound levels in the room were excellent as well,
and the two pianists were up to every difficult task Sondheim
would provide.
Another nice duet was "You Must Meet My Wife" from
Christy and David. It played well as a scene, with a sweet
ending. One could not help but note his exceptionally fine voice
and ease of delivery. This number was followed by the somewhat
kooky, "The Little Things," that was given nice
treatment by Wesley and Leslie. "Can That Boy
Foxtrot!" was an amusing quartet by the ladies that
apparently had so many daring double entendres that it was
removed from the show "Follies."
From time to time there were bits of dialogue between songs.
Some of this is rushed in delivery and difficult to hear. We
learn that Sondheim was born in New York, but moved to Bucks
County when he was ten. Oscar Hammerstein was a neighbor and an
important influence on the young, would-be composer.
In a segment featuring tunes from "Company," the title
song had smoothly rising harmonies and sounded like Broadway to
me. I thought how nice it was to be in such an intimate setting
with the performers. Then came "Another Hundred
People," with Hughes demonstrating "trippingly on the
tongue" in this intricate song about the comings and goings
in a city of strangers. "Barcelona" provides another
theatrical scene with David and Christy facing separation as her
stewardess character heads for Spain. The two play well against
one another, and his voice is again a knockout!
"I Never Do Anything Twice," originally commissioned
for the film, "7 Percent Solution," has sultry Holland
(in sunglasses, dark hat and holding long cigarette holder)
looking like she popped out of "Cabaret." Indeed, this
sounded like the kind of odd song Liza Minelli could make sense
of, but it was not one we long to hear twice.
There were several songs from "Follies." In
"Beautiful Girls," the boys vocalize beautifully while
the gals strut their stuff on the runway in absurd headgear. In
"Ah Paree," Leslie takes on a real tongue twister of a
lyric that most singers would never attempt. Wesley had yet
another frenetic challenge with "Buddy's Blues." If I
detected a bit of nervous energy during that number, I couldn't
blame the singer a bit. Christy's "Broadway Baby" was
not always key-perfect, but it was full of joyful pizzazz. In
"You Could Drive A Person Crazy" (another song from
"Company,") Holland, Leslie and Hughes combine their
talents well.
Act Two began with a spirited "Everybody Says Don't!"
from the ensemble. Then came a highlight of the night with Mr.
Kerr singing the title song from "Anyone Can Whistle."
He was mellow, commanding, and confident. He seems able to
alternate power and subtlety perfectly with a very full range.
It would be easy to forget this is a student and not a
professional, and he proves it again in a passionate rendition
of "Being Alive."
There was much more, including an articulate "Getting
Married Today" led by Holland, and a hauntingly beautiful
"Send in the Clowns" from Leslie. And Hughes had
perhaps her best moment singing "I'm Still Here!" As
she begins her fourth year as Director of Theater at Montgomery
College, I suspect both students and administration must be very
glad she is!
Bentley’s columns, featured in newspapers
from the East Coast to the Gulf Coast, may be viewed on the website at
www.ThePeoplesCritic.com
while E-mail may be addressed to
ThePeoplesCritic@earthlink.net
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