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Woody Guthrie’s American Song
Songs and Writing by Woody Guthrie
Conceived and adapted by Peter Glazer
Directed by Nicolas Minas
Orchestrations by Jeff Waxman
Produced by Blindfaith Theatre
At Victory Gardens Greenhouse Studio Theater
2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-871-3000, tickets $18 - $20
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 10 minutes with intermission
Through July 20, 2008
Tuneful tribute to the 20th Century American folk legend, Woody Guthrie
I am a big fan of folk music and Woody Guthrie’s music came to me during my childhood in the 1950’s. My uncle introduced me to Woody Guthrie, Peter, Paul & Mary and Peter Seeger. I quickly learned to love the words and music of the people. The simple harmonies and rhythms together with the story songs of the common people appealed to me. So, when Blindfaith Theatre decided to mount “Woody Guthrie’s American Song” revue, I knew I just had to see this show. I was not disappointed—Blindfaith Theatre’s production soars! It is an exuberant musical celebration of the Guthrie’s music—which is a celebration of the spirit of the common American.
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The nine musician/singers offer excellent music that Woody himself would give a big thump’s up. With a fiddle, banjo, bass and guitar as back up, the three men and two women tell Woody’s story as they sings and play guitars and banjos to his songbook. The result is one terrific night of classic, down-home folk tunes. Chris Froseth, Trey Maclin, Jim Maurer, Jeanne T. Arrigo and Missi Davis perform solos, duets, three and four part harmonies in a spirited and heartfelt tribute to Woody Guthrie. Besides singing deftly, the five portray the real, common folk that Woody sung about with genuine sincerity.
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The tribute opens with Guthrie’s “Hard Travelin’” ode to a hobo spirit Guthrie possessed. Next, we hear “The People I Owe.” The guys sing “Oklahoma Hills,” Guthrie’s nostalgic song to his native state. The stirring ballad “Dust Storm Disaster” (sing nicely by Chris Froseth) and “I Ain’t Got No Hoome In This World Anymore” sung by Jeanne T. Arrigo and Missi Davis are emotionally wrenching, earthy tunes.
We hear one of Woody’s great anthems, “Bound For Glory,” performed in a train riding rhythm. Once Woody arrived in California, he composed “Do Re Mi” as a satire of California in the 1930’s. Tunes like “Worried Man,” “Ain’t Gonna Be Treated This Way,” “Grand Coulee Dam” and “Pastures of Plenty” are from Guthrie’s California days up through 1939.
Act two, finds Guthrie in New York composing songs about the under privileged blue collar folks he always championed. His political activism came across in “Union Maid.” He penned a tribute to an American ship sunk by the Nazi’s while he was in the Merchant Marines—“The Sinking of the Reuben James.” The haunting “Nine Hundred Miles” and the ode to illegal immigrants, “Deportees” stir the soul. The hopeful song “Better World’ speaks to Woody’s belief in humanity. The show ends with a strong anthem that became Guthrie’s most famous song—his ultimate tribute to America—“This Land Is Your Land.”
The terrific singers do justice to Woody’s songbook. This revue is a mixture of folk, story songs, ballads, anthems, ditties and hymns. It is a foot-stompin,’ roof-rasin,’ toe-tappin,’ and hand-clapping night of great music. We enjoy riding the rails and hitchhiking with Woody. He brilliantly had the pulse of the people. Woody Guthrie was a troubadour of the American Spirit. This revue ran for years at Briar Street Theatre winning three Jeff Awards.
Blindfaith Theatre’s production is nicely produced with natural acoustical sound without amplification. I would recommend that the singers, especially the females, project louder so as to be heard better. I’d also mic the back-up musicians. Woody Guthrie’s lyrics do need to be heard.
“Woody Guthrie’s American Song” is a joyous celebration of the people’s music as composed by an American original. Take your children and teens to see and hear this American icon’s music. Every American should know Woody Guthrie’s songs. This revue is well sung with fine musicianship. Kudos to all the dedicated performers.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2008
Jeff Recommended
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