When the musical "Brigadoon" first appeared on Broadway, World War II was just barely over.
Before WWII was the Great Depression and World War I before that. Times had been rough, and people around the globe had become cynical.
The world is just as cynical now, with war in the Middle East and economies taking a hit. New threats linger in the air every day from swine flu to politicians gone amok.
But, even today, "Brigadoon" offers hope.
"If I could pick one word to describe the show, I'd say 'believe,'" said John Rapson. Rapson plays Tommy Albright in the Wagon Wheel Theatre production of "Brigadoon" now through July 25.
"The show is about faith and love," said Ashley Travis. She plays Jean in the musical.
"The show is about the power of love in a time of hate," said Rapson. "... It's a great, fantastic show. It's funny. It has adventure. It's a love story. It's a great way to introduce people to musical theater."
The show tells the story of a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every 100 years. To the villagers, the passing of each century seems no more than a single night.
Albright and Jeff Douglas, tourists from New York, get lost in the Scottish Highlands, stumble upon the village just as a wedding is about to be celebrated, and their arrival has implications for the town inhabitants.
"I love playing Tommy Albright. He's representative of us all a little bit," Rapson said. "He's a bit of a dreamer. He's looking for something to believe in. Probably my most favorite character I've ever played. I can relate to him."
Rapson grew up in Washington, Mich. He started in theater during his sophomore year at high school. His parents always took him to musical theater, and he loved it. The first audition he "stumbled" upon was "My Fair Lady." He landed the role of Professor Higgins.
Rapson just graduated from the University of Michigan. In September, he plans to move to New York, and has landed an agent. It's the "next big leap" for him, he said.
Also a Michigan native and a second-year WWT actor, Travis grew up in Tecumseh. Besides playing Jean in "Brigadoon" this season at WWT, she has several more upcoming roles.
Travis said she started musical theater in middle school. Her gymnastics coach made her choose between gymnastics and theater. She said she thinks she made the better, longer-lasting choice.
Musical theater, she said, is "something I'm really passionate about."
In "Brigadoon," Travis said, Jean is Fiona's younger, 18-year-old sister. Jean is getting ready to marry Charlie, but she's torn because she also likes Harry.
Travis said Jean is more of a "dancer role." She doesn't really sing, but she has a lot of heart, Travis said.
"It's interesting to bring something new to her," Travis said.
Guest directing "Brigadoon" this year is Tony Humrichouser. Rapson said Humrichouser makes the show "vibrant, fast and true to today." Travis said the whole cast and crew are elated to be doing the show with Humrichouser.
"It's a big show with big vocals," said Rapson. "Everyone's tired for different reasons. It's an emotionally exhausting show."
"But it's so worth it," said Travis.
Rapson said it's a love story, but it also could be an action-adventure story. It has many elements of great theater.
"The reason people have trouble with 'Brigadoon' is because there are so many facets to it," said Travis.
Rapson said he gets to do many scenes with Brandon Springman. Springman played Joseph in this season's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Most regular WWT attendees know Springman plays happy, fun-loving guys. But in "Brigadoon," Rapson said, Springman gets to stretch in his role. Audiences will see a different side to Springman.
Many people may remember the Gene Kelly movie version of "Brigadoon."
"The movie is a totally different animal from the show," Rapson said. Kelly bought the rights to the show, and then he turned the singer/actor parts into all dancers. While "Brigadoon" on the WWT stage will have some great choreography from Scott Michaels, Rapson said, the songs are at the heart of the show.
He said "Brigadoon" is what musical theater should be. "People don't write shows like that anymore," he said.
Rapson and Travis said the four best songs of the show are "Almost Like Being In Love," "From This Day On," "Come To Me, Bend To Me" and "There But For You Go I."
"There's just some incredible, gorgeous melodies," Rapson said.Backing up the singers for "Brigadoon" will be a 12-piece pit orchestra. "They sound fantastic," Rapson said.
Monday was the first time the actors got to hear the full orchestra performance, Travis said.
Rapson said the songs are definitely hard to sing, but they make a person want to bring themselves up to those songs. And a great thing about singing those songs on the WWT stage, Rapson said, is that he gets to sing them with Jennie Sophia.
"She's a work horse," said Travis. "She's a wonderful person and performer."
"Jennie and I, it helps we have a really close friendship. It's easy to fall in love on stage with her every night. It really is. She is this character. It's pretty easy to have chemistry with her," Rapson said.
Rapson and Travis also heaped praise on the costumes and set design for "Brigadoon."
"We're lucky to be in a production that can do that," Rapson said of the original set design and orchestrations.
