Review: Cast Will Make You Love 'Brigadoon' - In One Night!
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
And I'm usually more like Jeff Douglas in "Brigadoon" than Tommy Albright when it comes to love - cynical and jaded. Yet, here I find myself, after the third WWT show this summer, feeling good, though I went into the show kind of cranky.
As the character of Mr. Lundie says in "Brigadoon" though, "If you love someone deeply, anything is possible, even miracles."
In "Brigadoon," two American tourists, Jeff Douglas (Brandon Springman) and Tommy Albright (John Rapson), visiting Scotland discover a mysterious town that awakens to life just one day every 100 years. The town is in the midst of the wedding of Jean MacLaren (Ashley Travis) to Charlie Dalrymple (Andrew Laudel), though Jean also is desired by Harry Beaton (David Glenwright).
Tommy falls for Jean's older sister, Fiona MacLaren (Jennie Sophia), who is looking for someone to love. However, if Tommy wants to be with her always, he's got to give up the life he knew back in New York for all of eternity.
As the two best friends, Rapson and Springman really bring their characters to life. Rapson's Tommy is the dreamer, the man looking for something more in his life; Springman's Jeff is the kind of guy who sees the glass of vodka half empty.
Having played Joseph in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," virtually a nice guy full of faith, Springman gets to stretch his acting chops in "Brigadoon." Springman has shown he can handle any role you throw at him.
Springman also gets some of the best lines in "Brigadoon." While Mr. Lundie (Andy Robinson) is explaining the town's mystic past, Lundie asks Tommy and Jeff if they have any witches where they are from. Jeff quickly responds, "We still have them, we just pronounce it differently."
Rapson is going to head to New York this fall to try to land some roles on Broadway. After having seen him in various roles for the past two years at the WWT, I'm certain he'll be successful. Rapson has a natural gift on the stage, whether he's playing Willard in "Footloose" or Tommy in "Brigadoon."
Noticeably Wednesday night, Rapson received the loudest and longest applause after he sang "Almost Like Being In Love" with Jennie Sophia, who plays Fiona. Not only is the song one of the most well-known songs from "Brigadoon," but Rapson hit all the notes and emotions in it just right. If you remember him from one song during his time on the WWT stage, it's likely to be "Almost Like Being In Love."
One thing I was trying to listen to during the entire musical Wednesday was whether or not all the actors could keep their Scottish accents. If they slipped, they were only tiny slips. With all the dancing and singing they had to do during the show, that in itself is a feat.
Doing the best with the accent on opening night, I thought, was Erica Wilpon as Meg Brockie. The role of Meg, as played by the wickedly hilarious Wilpon, is a mix of Blanche Devereaux, Karen Walker and Lucille Ball. Wilpon was good as the narrator in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," but she's at the top of her game as Meg. I hope for the chance to see Wilpon in some comedies in the future because that's where her many talents shine most.
Speaking of talents, there is a reason Jennie Sophia is a Wagon Wheel favorite. Her voice alone is impressive, but throw in her acting and emotional range, and you have a future Tony Award®-winner. I'd personally like to see her as Elphaba in "Wicked," but I'm positive anything she wants to act in she will make her own.
Fighting over Jean are Harry and Charlie. As played by Travis, Laudel and Glenwright, I wanted to see more of their story fleshed out. Granted, the show is already about two hours, but the actors pulled their subplot out onto the stage wonderfully. I found myself wanting more of their story and creating my own backstories for each of the characters.
Why did Jean choose Charlie over Harry? What about Jean makes Harry want to end it all when Jean marries Charlie? Were Charlie and Harry ever friends, or has there always been some rivalry between them?
Those questions, you'll have to answer yourself. However, audiences can expect to see more of Travis in the second half of the season this summer, and that's a good thing, because after "Brigadoon," you'll want more of her.
One of the many things that helped Travis transform into Jean is the costumes and wigs. From the kilts and dresses, to the long-hair wigs and even the smallest accessories, costume designer Stephen R. Hollenbeck once again has done a marvelous job. The attire helps transport the audience to an 18th-century Scottish Highlands village. Bravo, Hollenbeck.
As Mr. Lundie, Andy Robinson does a great job of delivering the advice to the various characters, and telling the story of how Brigadoon came to be.
Though the role of Jane Ashton was small, Jennifer Dow was fierce in it. Dow just slips into any role she's given as easily as breathing.
If you've gone to any of the WWT shows this season, you know that the many ensemble and supporting actors give as much as the main roles. From Jake Klinkhammer as Frank/Sandy Dean to Mike Yocum and Tim Yocum as Andrew MacLaren and Archie Beaton respectively, not a single cast member disappoints.
Guest director Tony Humrichouser has put together a show everyone involved can be proud of. And with all the little touches, from the chase sequence to the birds singing while Fiona and Tommy are outdoors, Humrichouser clearly had a vision for what he wanted, and he got it.
But remember I'm more of a Jeff Douglas than a Tommy Albright. So the biggest thing nagging me about "Brigadoon" wasn't the acting or directing or all the "Lord of the Dance" choreography. It was the fact that Tommy and Fiona fell in love in one day. One Day! Who does that? Lust, I believe. But love? Seriously?
But then again, "Brigadoon" asks its audience to suspend reality and accept the fact that a whole village disappears for 100 years at a time ... so, falling in love in one day just comes with the territory. It's a love story.
Just don't ask me to believe it, I'll be having a Bud Light with Jeff Douglas at Bennigan's.
My rating (out of four): 3.25.[[In-content Ad]]"Brigadoon" runs through July 25 at the Wagon Wheel. Single adult tickets are $30 for all shows. Tickets for students 13 years old through college are $16, and children 12 years old and under are $12. Special rates are available for groups of 15 or more. To order tickets, or for more information, call the box office at 574-267-8041 or toll free at 866-823-2618, or online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
And I'm usually more like Jeff Douglas in "Brigadoon" than Tommy Albright when it comes to love - cynical and jaded. Yet, here I find myself, after the third WWT show this summer, feeling good, though I went into the show kind of cranky.
As the character of Mr. Lundie says in "Brigadoon" though, "If you love someone deeply, anything is possible, even miracles."
In "Brigadoon," two American tourists, Jeff Douglas (Brandon Springman) and Tommy Albright (John Rapson), visiting Scotland discover a mysterious town that awakens to life just one day every 100 years. The town is in the midst of the wedding of Jean MacLaren (Ashley Travis) to Charlie Dalrymple (Andrew Laudel), though Jean also is desired by Harry Beaton (David Glenwright).
Tommy falls for Jean's older sister, Fiona MacLaren (Jennie Sophia), who is looking for someone to love. However, if Tommy wants to be with her always, he's got to give up the life he knew back in New York for all of eternity.
As the two best friends, Rapson and Springman really bring their characters to life. Rapson's Tommy is the dreamer, the man looking for something more in his life; Springman's Jeff is the kind of guy who sees the glass of vodka half empty.
Having played Joseph in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," virtually a nice guy full of faith, Springman gets to stretch his acting chops in "Brigadoon." Springman has shown he can handle any role you throw at him.
Springman also gets some of the best lines in "Brigadoon." While Mr. Lundie (Andy Robinson) is explaining the town's mystic past, Lundie asks Tommy and Jeff if they have any witches where they are from. Jeff quickly responds, "We still have them, we just pronounce it differently."
Rapson is going to head to New York this fall to try to land some roles on Broadway. After having seen him in various roles for the past two years at the WWT, I'm certain he'll be successful. Rapson has a natural gift on the stage, whether he's playing Willard in "Footloose" or Tommy in "Brigadoon."
Noticeably Wednesday night, Rapson received the loudest and longest applause after he sang "Almost Like Being In Love" with Jennie Sophia, who plays Fiona. Not only is the song one of the most well-known songs from "Brigadoon," but Rapson hit all the notes and emotions in it just right. If you remember him from one song during his time on the WWT stage, it's likely to be "Almost Like Being In Love."
One thing I was trying to listen to during the entire musical Wednesday was whether or not all the actors could keep their Scottish accents. If they slipped, they were only tiny slips. With all the dancing and singing they had to do during the show, that in itself is a feat.
Doing the best with the accent on opening night, I thought, was Erica Wilpon as Meg Brockie. The role of Meg, as played by the wickedly hilarious Wilpon, is a mix of Blanche Devereaux, Karen Walker and Lucille Ball. Wilpon was good as the narrator in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," but she's at the top of her game as Meg. I hope for the chance to see Wilpon in some comedies in the future because that's where her many talents shine most.
Speaking of talents, there is a reason Jennie Sophia is a Wagon Wheel favorite. Her voice alone is impressive, but throw in her acting and emotional range, and you have a future Tony Award®-winner. I'd personally like to see her as Elphaba in "Wicked," but I'm positive anything she wants to act in she will make her own.
Fighting over Jean are Harry and Charlie. As played by Travis, Laudel and Glenwright, I wanted to see more of their story fleshed out. Granted, the show is already about two hours, but the actors pulled their subplot out onto the stage wonderfully. I found myself wanting more of their story and creating my own backstories for each of the characters.
Why did Jean choose Charlie over Harry? What about Jean makes Harry want to end it all when Jean marries Charlie? Were Charlie and Harry ever friends, or has there always been some rivalry between them?
Those questions, you'll have to answer yourself. However, audiences can expect to see more of Travis in the second half of the season this summer, and that's a good thing, because after "Brigadoon," you'll want more of her.
One of the many things that helped Travis transform into Jean is the costumes and wigs. From the kilts and dresses, to the long-hair wigs and even the smallest accessories, costume designer Stephen R. Hollenbeck once again has done a marvelous job. The attire helps transport the audience to an 18th-century Scottish Highlands village. Bravo, Hollenbeck.
As Mr. Lundie, Andy Robinson does a great job of delivering the advice to the various characters, and telling the story of how Brigadoon came to be.
Though the role of Jane Ashton was small, Jennifer Dow was fierce in it. Dow just slips into any role she's given as easily as breathing.
If you've gone to any of the WWT shows this season, you know that the many ensemble and supporting actors give as much as the main roles. From Jake Klinkhammer as Frank/Sandy Dean to Mike Yocum and Tim Yocum as Andrew MacLaren and Archie Beaton respectively, not a single cast member disappoints.
Guest director Tony Humrichouser has put together a show everyone involved can be proud of. And with all the little touches, from the chase sequence to the birds singing while Fiona and Tommy are outdoors, Humrichouser clearly had a vision for what he wanted, and he got it.
But remember I'm more of a Jeff Douglas than a Tommy Albright. So the biggest thing nagging me about "Brigadoon" wasn't the acting or directing or all the "Lord of the Dance" choreography. It was the fact that Tommy and Fiona fell in love in one day. One Day! Who does that? Lust, I believe. But love? Seriously?
But then again, "Brigadoon" asks its audience to suspend reality and accept the fact that a whole village disappears for 100 years at a time ... so, falling in love in one day just comes with the territory. It's a love story.
Just don't ask me to believe it, I'll be having a Bud Light with Jeff Douglas at Bennigan's.
My rating (out of four): 3.25.[[In-content Ad]]"Brigadoon" runs through July 25 at the Wagon Wheel. Single adult tickets are $30 for all shows. Tickets for students 13 years old through college are $16, and children 12 years old and under are $12. Special rates are available for groups of 15 or more. To order tickets, or for more information, call the box office at 574-267-8041 or toll free at 866-823-2618, or online at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
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