08/18/2015
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St. Louis by Richard Green
Spellbound!
Stray Dog Theatre
The brand new musical Spellbound! is still coming into its own—but already shows every sign of success.
A freshened-up version of the old Cinderella story, this update boasts great swagger and color—and even more charm, thanks to a lot of talent and at least a half dozen very successful songs.
I missed the opening weekend, but on the second Saturday director/co-writer (with Robert L. White) Gary F. Bell announced the team had cut 20 minutes off the original running time. The show still clocks in at about 2:40 hours, with two capacious 15 minute intermissions, so I was hunkered down for more when the third act began. But the act three opener was so thrilling and infectious (a huge, energizing "surf's up" dance extravaganza, "Blue Water Stream") that all my excitement was renewed.
There's great skill shown on every front: from Chris Petersen's lovely band, to the dazzling array of mad colorful costumes (by Eileen Engel), to a line of very tall, movable trees by set designer Rob Lippert (and the nice implication of a magical castle). As Arabella, the "Cinderella" here, Meadow Tien Nguy acts and sings beautifully in songs that could easily have come out of a Disney animated movie. And Chris Tipp is excellent as Adama, her "Prince Charming," a handsome young rake who's almost ready to settle down.
The title comes not from Alfred Hitchcock but from the spells cast onstage by Layla, Arabella's wicked mother, played by the indestructibly perfect Deborah Sharn under an outrageous mountain of red wigs. Wigs are big, with a perfectly matching set of "howler monkeys" as Adama's highly stylized assistants (the meticulously grand Michael Baird and Brendan Ochs) with their own big, bright blue hair, among an array of stripes and colors set upon nearly every head.
Maria Bartolotta and Ms. Engel (the costume co-designer) are perfect as the wicked step-sisters, while Patrick Kelly seems under-utilized as Arabella's father. Likewise, choreographer Zach Stefaniak is vastly over-qualified to play the father of the prince. But you have to admit, director/co-writer Bell knows how to pull a great cast (seemingly) out of a hat, any day of the week.
Here Mr. Bell faces a new challenge: how to trim another fifteen or thirty (a parent might say 60) minutes from this frequently delightful show intended as an introduction to the theater for children, but at present too long for most kids (though pretty fun for adults, who made up nearly 99% of the audience Saturday night).
There are a few opportunities for cuts. The always-impressive Paula Stoff Dean (as the "good witch") is miraculous, but has about five songs where she might only need three; and the wonderful Mr. Kelly might have to lose his big introspective song late in the evening. A good solo number is a roadmap to the center of the soul, but without much direction from the lyrics, Mr. Kelly is left to take us on a (frequently compelling, but rather meandering) drive around town. He deserves better—though I envision authors Bell and White literally tearing their hair out as I say it, after all their work.
Fine comic contributions, as always, from Michael A. Wells, and Mr. Tipp doubles as a languid lion in a tango opposite Ms. Nguy's Arabella (with some very nice swagger in the band, as in that great "surf's up" number, both in act three—you really have to see that!), while on her quest. Kimmie Kidd is remarkably funny and sings the hell out of a burlesque number as Lady Bird. Corey Frain does nicely as a maniacal, poetic rat.
If they weren't all so great, the expected cuts would be much easier. As it is, they make Mr. Bell's job of shaving off more time quite a challenge.
Through August 22, 2015, at the Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee, a few blocks east of Grand Ave. For more information visit www.straydogtheatre.org. Music, lyrics and book by Gary F. Bell and Robert L. White, with original orchestrations by Christopher Thomas.
Cast (in order of appearance)
Arabella: Meadow Tien Nguy
Castor: Melissa Harris
Eurasia: Stefanie Kluba
Inaambura: Paula Stoff Dean
Layla: Deborah Sharn
Muchaneta: Maria Bartolotta
Kokumo: Eileen Engel
Lovely: Tyler Cheatem
Bangababo: Patrick Kelly
Oswald: Kimberly Still
Cloud Burst: Abby Eisen
Dew Drop: Kevin Connelly
Howler Monkeys: Michael Baird, Brendan Ochs
Adama: Chris Tipp
Woman: Kimmie Kidd
Man: Corey Fraine
Sage Chief Changamire: Zachary Stefaniak
Rasputin Rat: Corey Fraine
Lady Bird: Kimmie Kidd
Amadeus: Michael A. Wells
Bengal Tiger: Chris Tipp
Perfect Fit Women: Kimmie Kidd, Stefanie Kluba, Melissa Harris, Kimberly Still
In Just One Night Men: Tyler Cheatem, Corey Frain
Butch: Michael A. Wells
Gretel: Tyler Cheatem
Goldie: Kimberly Still
Band
Director/Keyboard: Chris Petersen
Bass: M. Joshua Ryan
Cello: Michael Kuba
Flute: Harrison Rich
Guitar: Adam Rugo
Percussion: Bob McMahon
Trumpet: A.J. Lane
Trombone: Gabe Mueller
Violin: Steve Frisbee
Crew
Director: Gary F. Bell
Choreographer: Zachary Stefaniak
Costumers: Eileen Engel & Gary F. Bell
Lighting Designer: Tyler Duenow
Vocal Director: Chris Petersen
Scenic Designer: Rob Lippert
Sound Designer: Justin Been
Stage Manager: Justin Been
Production Manager: Jay V. Hall
Photo: John Lamb
-- Richard T. Green
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