7/28/2019 On CT & NY Theatre: July 2013

1/2

ON CT & NY THEATREBy Marlene S. Gaylinn

CT Critics Circle / ctcritics.org July/2013

SOUTH PACIFICSummer Theatre of New Canaan, CT

Under the all-weather tent at Waveny Park, New

Canaan, you can sit comfortably and enjoy

nature and cool, hill top breezes while watching

a wonderful production of South Pacific. Thisis summer theatre at its finest. And, no wonder

-- its Summer Theatre of New Canaans

(STONC) 10th

successful season under Melody

Libonatis Artistic Direction. Her family team,

which has accumulated numerous nominationsfor awards by Connecticut Critics circle,

continues to present the most entertaining,summer productions in our area. This season,

daughter, Allegra Libonati directs South

Pacific which is headed by some magnificent,professional voices accompanied by a 10-piece

orchestra, confidently conducted by David

Hancock Turner.

If you havent seen this Rogers and

Hammersteins musical by now, you must havebeen isolated somewhere since birth. To refreshyour mind, the musical takes place on a remote

island in the South Pacific during World War

II. Its a boring, military base that saw little

action -- except for one strategic maneuver atthe end of the show. The heavy, tropical

atmosphere here is happily lightened up by the

appearances of Luther Billis (Nick Reynolds) arough and tumble sailor, and Bloody Mary

(Janelle Robinson) an aggressive islander who

sells grass skirts and shrunken human heads. Asmart operator, she also wants to marry herdaughter to handsome officer, Lt. Joe Cable

(Jason Evans). Reynolds confident stage

presence, ease with timing, and tattooed bodylanguage gains this eccentric, fun-loving guy

our complete attention, while Robinsons

stunning singing and expressive, re-

interpretation of her role is an equal delight.However, our main attention, is immediately

placed on two pairs of sweethearts who are tornapart by the racial prejudices of that period.

Nellie (Tiffan Borelli), a nurse at the base, is

attracted to plantation owner Emile De Becque

(Daniel Klein)until she discovers that he hastwo, bi-racial children (cute kidsplayed by

Christian Camporin and Neha Lyer) from an

island native, and recalls her Southern

upbringing. Lt. Joe Cable (Jason Evans) love

for a native girl, is similarly stunted because hisstrict, white culture will also not accept a mixed

marriage. Evans is a handsome, muscular guywith sexy mannerisms and a voice to match.

His sweetheart, played by dainty, Kim Wong,

pantomimed her part nicely but did not sing atall.

Klein is a good actor and has a rich, operatic

voice. As De Becque, he certainly mesmerizesthe audience in Some Enchanted Evening and

This Nearly Was Mine. His co star Borelliesperformance was slightly uneven. She can acttenderly and has a very pleasant voice that

compliments Kleins, however, her overall

posture and dance movements need more

definition and forcefulness. Never the less,many people in the audience thoroughly enjoyed

her performance and could not refrain from

shaking their heads and clapping in time to thenumber Honey Bun. The nurses, sailors and

island girls were fine and the choreography by

Doug Shankman was appropriate and enjoyable.

Plays to July 13Free parkingInquire about

gourmet picnic delivery - 203-966-4634

Grease,directed by Melody Libonati (she

appeared the original Bway production)

follows on July 20August 11

7/28/2019 On CT & NY Theatre: July 2013

2/2

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Westchester Bway Theatre, Elmsford, NY

The Sound of Music is so popular that it has

developed a cult following. Some audiencesarrive at movie theatres in Austrian costumes or

nuns garb for singing participation and

contests. Yet, other folks have seen JulieAndrews commercials so often that they feel

like running far away from them thar hills that

are alive with the sound of music. People!Get over it! If you continue to be negatively

influenced by the musicals commercialism, you

will miss out on one of the most enjoyable live

performances ever featured at WestchesterBroadway Theatre (WBT).

So, good luck finding a sprig of artificial

edelweiss to wear in your lapel (none growhere) but dont expect to see a costumed

audience at WBT. Your focus will be solely on

a live cast of excellent, professional performerswho will inspire you with delightful melodies

throughout the entire show.

This musical, based on an autobiography

written by Maria von Trapp, is about her failed

attempts to be a nun, her successful job as a

governess to a large family of children, her

eventual marriage into this wealthy, musicalfamily headed by a strict, Austrian, Naval

Captain, and their escape to America from Nazioccupied Austria in 1938.

The music is by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by

Oscar Hammerstein II. The original, Broadwayshow featured Mary Martin as Maria and

Theodore Bikel as the Captain, and won several

Tony Awards. It was made into a film starringJulie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, and it

too won several Academy Awards.

At WBT Aubrey Sinn brings her own, sweetinterpretation to the role of Maria. Her silvery

voice coordinates nicely with the rich tones of

Matthew Shepard, who plays Captain Georgvon Trapp. Karen Murphy, the inspiring Mother

Abbess, gives all her energy to Climb Every

Mountain and Melinda Tanner is the properFrau Schmidt, the familys household manager.

Of course there is the usual gaggle of cute kids

headed by Molly Emerson as Leisl. How canyou miss with Do-RE-Mi, The Lonely

Goatherd and My Favorite Things. A

particular favorite is the tender, Edelweiss,

which is wistfully sung by the whole family.Unfortunately, it was also the last song

Hammerstein put words to.

Special credit should be given to Loren Shaw,

Mary Stein and Pamela Cummings for the

coordinated childrens costumes, and to themusical director, Leo Carusone and his live

orchestra.

This dinner theatre includes various menuchoices -- served tableside. Parking is free.

Plays to August 11

Tickets: 914-592-2222