l-r: Robert Parsons, Harvy Blanks, Harry Yaglijian, Molly Andrews, David M. Lutken, Tony Marcus, Karen Celia Heil, and Marie Shell star in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s Regional Premiere of Fire on the Mountain, presented April 1 – 26 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.
Fire on the Mountain: By Randal Myler & Dan Wheetman. Directed by Randal Myler. Musical Directed by Dan Wheetman. TheatreWorks at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View. (650) 463-1960 or visit www.theatreworks.org.
April 1 – 26, 2015
Fire on the Mountain resonates with foot-stompin’ music at TheatreWorks [rating:5]
Fire on the Mountain receiving its breath catching regional premiere at TheatreWorks has its origins in the hard-scrabble lives of coal miners and their families in Appalachia. It is the passionate handiwork of the creators of It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues told as a musical revue using rhythms specific to that region. The authors make a distinction between commercial blue grass and old time music. Whereas the former is designed to entertain the latter is a musical history both melancholy and joyous and always gripping storytelling. Although the actually daily hardships continued on for month and years, the love of their land remained strong.
The show has been making the rounds of theatres around the U.S. since its premiere at Chicago’s Northlight Theatre in 2007. The reviews have been raves and the present staging continues that trend. Along with a talented cast of singers and actors most of the acting crew plays multiple instruments and all dance up a storm individually and in groups. Adding to the authentic music of the entire production are archival black and white photos projected on two large screens framing the stage.
The 90 minutes without intermission kept the audience riveted to their seats ending with a spontaneous standing ovation. Highly reccommended.
Cast: Molly Andrews, Harvy Blanks, Nik Duggan, Karen Celia Heil, David M. Lutken, Tony Marcus, Robert Parsons, Marie Shell, Harry Yaglijian.
Artistic Cast: Scenic Design, Joe Ragey; Costume Design, Jill Bowers; Lighting Design, Steven B. Mannshardt; Sound Design ,Brendan Aanes; Stage Manager, Gregg Rehrig; Assistant Stage Manager, Emily Anderson Wolf.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com.
l-r: Robert Parsons, Harvy Blanks, Harry Yaglijian, Molly Andrews, David M. Lutken, Tony Marcus, Karen Celia Heil, and Marie Shell star in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s Regional Premiere of Fire on the Mountain, presented April 1 – 26 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.
