Sept. 8 - Sept. 25, 2010
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| Ben Rumson Jennifer Rumson, his daughter Julio Valveras Dr. Newcomb Elisabeth Woodling Steve Bullnack Pete Billings Salem Cherry Jourdel Jake Whippany Edgar Crocker Sing Yuy Reuben Sloane Jasper Sarah Woodling Yvonne Duval |
| Costumes by Lighting by Choreography by Production Stage Manager Directed by |
| CAST |
ERIC BOTOSAN
ELIZABETH ROSE MORRISS
DAMIEN GULDE
ALLAN ASHBY
ANDREA STRAYER
ANDREW BYRNE
DEAN DEFFETT
LARRY GIBBS
HEATHER GOODALL
DAVID HAINES
PETER LOUCAS
JACK LY
CASSEL MILES
GARY PRUDENCE
KATIE RICHARDSON
SUSAN SANDERS
ELIZABETH ROSE MORRISS
DAMIEN GULDE
ALLAN ASHBY
ANDREA STRAYER
ANDREW BYRNE
DEAN DEFFETT
LARRY GIBBS
HEATHER GOODALL
DAVID HAINES
PETER LOUCAS
JACK LY
CASSEL MILES
GARY PRUDENCE
KATIE RICHARDSON
SUSAN SANDERS
| Book & Lyrics by ALAN JAY LERNER Music by FREDERICK LOEWE From the creators of MY FAIR LADY, GIGI, CAMELOT and BRIGADOON also came this enchanting Broadway musical about the California Gold Rush. Featuring classic song hits “They Call The Wind Mariah”, “Wandrin’ Star” and “I Talk To The Trees,” it’s a funny, heartfelt musical, full of romance and adventure! |
September 14, 2010
Theatre review by Mark Andrew Lawrence
Joe Cascone and The Civic Light Opera Company have done it again taking a problematic show from Broadway’s golden age, and
transforming it into a lively, entertaining production.
The show in question is the 1951musical Paint Your Wagon. The score is vintage Lerner and Loewe, and several songs are well-known
standards. The problem is Lerner’s book. Cascone accurately describes in his detailed program notes as more premise than plot.
That premise certainly is solid using the California Gold rush as a backdrop, but Alan Jay Lerner was never able to come up with a
coherent or compelling story. Attracted by the quality of the music and lyrics other authors have tried to make the show work, the
version on view at Fairview Library Theatre works very well thanks to Joe Cascone’s insight, research and tight direction.
The central character is Ben Rumson who discovers gold, stakes a claim and builds a town he calls – naturally – Rumson Town. Eric
Botosan brings the proper sense of wanderlust to Ben’s theme song “Wand'rin’ Star.” He can play tough when chasing after anyone
who would cheat him or tender in his scenes with his daughter, Jennifer.
Elizabeth Rose Morriss is a feisty Jennifer starting off bewildered by the effect she has on the men in the camp, then suddenly finding
herself falling in love with Julio, a young Mexican miner, ultimately forced to run away with him. With her beautiful singing Morriss also
wins audience sympathy by not overplaying the melodramatic aspects.
In the role of Julio, Damien Gulde generates enthusiastic response to his powerful singing of “I Talk to the Trees.” He avoids caricature
by not overdoing the accent and making the character both believable and sympathetic.
The leads are surrounded by an array of colourful characters portrayed by CLOC regulars including Heather Goodall as the dance hall
hostess Cherry, Susan Sanders as the would-be fandango Yvonne Duval, and David Haines as the miner Jake who leads the singing and
dancing in the lively production number “Hand Me Down that Can O’ Beans.”
Andrew Byrne offers a strong, dark presence and solid performance as Steve Bullnack while, at the other end of the spectrum, Peter
Loucas portrays the Mormon traveler Jacob Woodling with Andrea Strayer and Katie Richardson stealing the scene as his jealously
brawling wives. Their antics give a lift to the show’s second half where the exhilaration of the finding of gold gives way to despair as
the strike runs out.
Cascone keeps the action focused and finds a way to showcase the musical’s biggest hit, “They Call the Wind Mariah.” It’s a joy to
hear these wonderful songs in the context of a story that works.
Theatre review by Mark Andrew Lawrence
Joe Cascone and The Civic Light Opera Company have done it again taking a problematic show from Broadway’s golden age, and
transforming it into a lively, entertaining production.
The show in question is the 1951musical Paint Your Wagon. The score is vintage Lerner and Loewe, and several songs are well-known
standards. The problem is Lerner’s book. Cascone accurately describes in his detailed program notes as more premise than plot.
That premise certainly is solid using the California Gold rush as a backdrop, but Alan Jay Lerner was never able to come up with a
coherent or compelling story. Attracted by the quality of the music and lyrics other authors have tried to make the show work, the
version on view at Fairview Library Theatre works very well thanks to Joe Cascone’s insight, research and tight direction.
The central character is Ben Rumson who discovers gold, stakes a claim and builds a town he calls – naturally – Rumson Town. Eric
Botosan brings the proper sense of wanderlust to Ben’s theme song “Wand'rin’ Star.” He can play tough when chasing after anyone
who would cheat him or tender in his scenes with his daughter, Jennifer.
Elizabeth Rose Morriss is a feisty Jennifer starting off bewildered by the effect she has on the men in the camp, then suddenly finding
herself falling in love with Julio, a young Mexican miner, ultimately forced to run away with him. With her beautiful singing Morriss also
wins audience sympathy by not overplaying the melodramatic aspects.
In the role of Julio, Damien Gulde generates enthusiastic response to his powerful singing of “I Talk to the Trees.” He avoids caricature
by not overdoing the accent and making the character both believable and sympathetic.
The leads are surrounded by an array of colourful characters portrayed by CLOC regulars including Heather Goodall as the dance hall
hostess Cherry, Susan Sanders as the would-be fandango Yvonne Duval, and David Haines as the miner Jake who leads the singing and
dancing in the lively production number “Hand Me Down that Can O’ Beans.”
Andrew Byrne offers a strong, dark presence and solid performance as Steve Bullnack while, at the other end of the spectrum, Peter
Loucas portrays the Mormon traveler Jacob Woodling with Andrea Strayer and Katie Richardson stealing the scene as his jealously
brawling wives. Their antics give a lift to the show’s second half where the exhilaration of the finding of gold gives way to despair as
the strike runs out.
Cascone keeps the action focused and finds a way to showcase the musical’s biggest hit, “They Call the Wind Mariah.” It’s a joy to
hear these wonderful songs in the context of a story that works.
Pictured:
Damien Gulde as Julio
Damien Gulde as Julio
| Production Team |