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110 In The Shade
By N. Richard Nash
Music by Harvey Schmidt
Lyrics by Tom Jones
Based on The Rainmaker play by N. Richard Nash
Directed & Choreographed by Rudy Hogenmiller
Music Direction/Conductor Roger L. Bingsaman
Produced by Light Opera Works
At Cahn Auditorium
600 Emerson
Evanston, IL
Call 847-869-6300, tickets $27 - $75
Wednesday, August 23 at 2 PM
Friday, August 25 at 8 PM
Saturday, August 26 at 8 PM
Sunday, August 27 at 2 PM
Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission
Through August 27, 2006
110 In The Shade brightens the heart with its intimacy
Over the last couples of years, under the precision direction of Rudy Hogenmiller, Light Opera Works has selected and delivered spectacular productions. 110 In The Shade continues that high level of achievement. This is a wonderful ‘feel-good’ musical that America is now rediscovering 43 years after its 1963 Broadway debut. (It will have a major remounting on Broadway in spring, 2007 with Audra McDonald in the lead.)
This marvelous show was ahead of its time and only lasted 330 performances in 1963 despite rave reviews and 4 Tony Award nominations. Director Rudy Hogenmiller worked with composer Harvey Schmidt and lyricist Tom Jones (the creators of The Fantasticks) to polish and revise the script, add two new songs from the original production (including the powerful “Evenin’ Star”) and polish the arrangements resulting in a beautiful, heartwarming musical.
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110 In The Shade emerged from N. Richard Nash’s 1954 drama, The Rainmaker staring Geraldine Page and Darren McGavin and the 1956 film staring Katherine Hepburn and Burt Lancaster. Theatrical producer David Merrick approached Rodgers and Hammerstein to do the score but nothing ‘clicked’ until the young guys from Greenwich Village got excited by the work. Jones & Schmidt, both from Texas had an understanding of Nash’s people and the milieu. Jones & Schmidt develop likable, well-rounded characters with whom we quickly relate to and care about who express themselves aptly in song from an appealing score.
From the opening number, “Another Hot Day,” we are taken into the hot, dusty world of West Texas in the 1930’s where a drought threatens the community of Three Point. The story focuses on Lizzie Curry (Elizabeth Haley) who feels love has passed her by since she is a plain, yet vibrant woman who fears her romantic prospects are fading. File (James Rank), the town sheriff and good person, carries the burden of being divorced with the pain of having his wife leave him.
In the “Lizzie’s Comin’ Home” song, we meet her father, H.C. (Roger Mueller at his paternal best form), Noah (Karl Sean Hamilton) Lizzie’s overprotecting brother and Jimmy (Stan Q. Wash at his loveable, cute best) the free spirit brother and eternal optimist who all are desperate to get Lizzie married before she becomes a hopeless old maid. They conspire to get her together with the lonely sheriff, File, who is content to live alone. Or is he? Elizabeth Haley commands Lizzie with her strong voice and her contagious empathy. We lament with her as she states her plight in “Love Don’t Turn Away.”
We meet the town’s people and the role of women in Texas in the 1930’s with “The Hungry Men” where the ladies talk about cooking for their men, then doing the dishes so they can cook the next meal for their guys. When the charismatic and vibrant ‘Rainmaker’ arrives in the person of Starbuck (the terrifically charming, rich-voiced Larry Adams), he lands his “The Rain Song” so thoroughly that H.C and the town agree to pay him $100 in advance so he’ll make rain within 24 hours. The town places their hope in the wandering flim-flam man.
Starbuck notices Lizzie’s virtues in the “You’re Not Foolin’ Me” and he starts to convince her that she is, indeed, a worthy catch. The terrific, liltingly melodic duet “A Man and A woman” has Lizzie and File (Haley and Rank) keeping the torch burning.
Act two’s outstanding opening number, “Everything Beautiful Happens at Night” finds the ensemble setting the tone for the resolution of the day’s two draughts (rain as an apt metaphor for the need for love). The new “Evenin’ Star” song has Starbuck (Larry Adams in full baritone voice) talking about his dreams. He tries to remold Lizzie’s self image in “Melisande.” Lizzie restates her life philosophy in the moving “Simple Little Things.”
Stan Q. Wash, as the lovable, funny Jimmy, shows his love for Snookie (Katie Siri) in the cute dance number “Little Red Hat.” Starbuck and Lizzie show their magical attraction in “Is It Really Me?” and the finale resolving song “Wonderful Music” has Lizzie being torn between the charismatic, wondering Starbuck and the steady nice guy File. Who will she pick?
The show is a heartwarming fable filled with terrific acting, nice lilting rhythms, smooth melodies and a wonderful appealing feel-good, wistful tone that captures the enjoyment from a cute romantic cowboy musical. Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt’s music and lyrics are smart, lyrical and character embellishing. Elizabeth Haley’s Lizzie, James Rank’s File and Stan Q. Wash’s Jimmy delivered terrific, full performances while Karl Sean Hamilton’s Noah and Roger Mueller’s H.C. offer effective supporting work. Larry Adams was at his top form, both vocally and in his stage presence.
110 In The Shade is a thoroughly enjoyable throw-back musical that was flawlessly produced by Light Opera Works that features a stirring 28 piece orchestra under the direction of Roger L. Bingman. This rare show has only 4 more performances, so get your tickets now.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2006
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