{"id":3246,"date":"2012-09-23T20:23:36","date_gmt":"2012-09-24T03:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=3246"},"modified":"2012-10-01T08:58:44","modified_gmt":"2012-10-01T15:58:44","slug":"seven-brides-for-seven-brothers-6th-st-playhouse-santa-rosa-ca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/seven-brides-for-seven-brothers-6th-st-playhouse-santa-rosa-ca\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers-6th St.Playhouse-SantaRosa CA"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/h5>\n
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From left: Clint Campbell, Jake Flatto, Trevor Hoffmann, Rebekah Patti<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0Photos by Eric Chazankin<\/em><\/h6>\n

Reviewed by Suzanne and Greg Angeo<\/strong>
\n(Saturday, August 25, 2012 evening performance)<\/p>\n

Disappointing Launch for 6th<\/sup> Street\u2019s New Season<\/strong><\/p>\n

For its season kickoff last year, 6th<\/sup> Street Playhouse\u2019s GK Hardt Theatre enjoyed a stunning triumph with \u201cKiss Me Kate\u201d, and kept the momentum going with a string of standing-room only hits like \u201cA Christmas Story\u201d, \u201cCat on a Hot Tin Roof\u201d, \u201cThe Marvelous Wonderettes\u201d and \u201cThe Producers\u201d. \u00a0There were also a number of remarkable shows at 6th<\/sup> Street\u2019s Studio Theatre. These successes raised the bar not only for local theatre overall, but for 6th<\/sup> Street itself. \u00a0Whether their newest production \u201cSeven Brides for Seven Brothers\u201d can meet last season\u2019s formidable challenge is far from certain.<\/p>\n

As its 2012-2013 season opener, \u201cSeven Brides\u201d is a surprising choice for award-winning 6th<\/sup> Street Playhouse. This lavish MGM movie musical from 1954 was a great success, with stars like Howard Keel<\/strong> and Jane Powell,<\/strong> and an outstanding supporting cast. But the stage adaptation by Gene de Paul, Johnny Mercer, Al Kasha<\/strong> and Joel Hirschhorn<\/strong> was not much of a crowd-pleaser when it first appeared on Broadway in 1982. Actually, it was a flop \u2013 it closed after only five performances, and didn\u2019t do much better when it opened in London\u2019s West End a few years later. It saw more success on tour in the U.S. and in revivals, but was never what you\u2019d call a popular hit.<\/p>\n

The story is simple and the premise is flimsy. In 1850 Oregon, rugged mountaineer Adam decides it\u2019s time to get him a wife, so he descends from his remote mountain cabin into town. There he manages to charm the na\u00efve but lovely Milly into marrying him, over the strong suspicions of the townsfolk. When she arrives back at the cabin with her bumptious hubby, she discovers they are not alone. His six uncouth, unwashed and unmarried brothers are living there with him. When these wild boys get the idea they\u2019d like to be married too, they end up kidnapping six girls from town. All heck breaks loose, with a happy ending guaranteed. But the show at 6th<\/sup> Street has problems.<\/p>\n

To begin with, there\u2019s the casting. While they do have good singing voices, it\u2019s an understatement to say that most of the brothers do not look like outdoorsy types. It\u2019s hard to believe these guys are supposed to be rough-hewn mountain men – felling trees, splitting logs and killing grizzlies with their bare hands. They\u2019d look much more at home on the sofa, munching pizza and watching TV. Case in point: one especially embarrassing number has all six of Adam\u2019s brothers surrendering their underwear to Milly for washing, and they end up doing a lively dance together shirtless, not a pretty sight. This is where unfortunate casting choices are painfully apparent. Some of the brothers display a little too much bouncing flesh in the process. If this is supposed to be funny, it doesn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

In all fairness, there are a few standouts among the brothers: the acrobatic Trevor Hoffman<\/strong> as Benjamin, and Clint Campbell<\/strong> (so compelling as Brick in last season\u2019s \u201cCat on a Hot Tin Roof\u201d) as Caleb, not only look their parts but are also convincing as powerful, independent guys that still long for love and acceptance. Probably the best of the boys is Joey Abrego<\/strong> as the youngest brother Gideon. He shows both strength and sensitivity, and has a truly wonderful voice. It\u2019s easy to see how a young lady might find him appealing and sympathetic.<\/p>\n

As for the brides, there were some really good performances by Kate Kitchens<\/strong> as Alice, and Vanessa Bautista<\/strong> as Martha. And even though she plays a supporting role in this show, the delightful April Krautner<\/strong> as Dorcas steals every scene she\u2019s in. She\u2019s always funny and charming in her leading roles (witness last season\u2019s \u201cThe 39 Steps\u201d and \u201cThe Producers\u201d), and she\u2019s also tops at singing and dancing.<\/p>\n

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Rebekah Patti, Ben Knoll<\/p><\/div>\n

Ben Knoll<\/strong> as Adam needs to be bold and daring – a force of nature – but instead comes off as just an ordinary, likeable guy. Despite having a pleasant enough singing voice and demeanor, he lacks the rugged physicality of a man who takes long hikes in the mountains, a quality needed in this role to make it effective and believable. The excellent Rebekah Patti<\/strong> as Milly carries the show as best she can with her beautiful voice and engaging stage presence, with the help of just a few good supporting cast members playing townsfolk. Alan Kafton<\/strong> as the Preacher and Laura Davis<\/strong> as Mrs Hoallum are a pleasure to watch whenever they happen onto the stage. The chorus offers good, strong harmonies offset by only occasional pitch problems.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Fledgling director Patrick Varner\u2019s<\/strong> staging is inconsistent. The fight scenes are a bit awkward and some of the group scenes are disorganized, like traffic jams onstage. There are some impressive bits of acrobatics and tumbling, and some good dance numbers (by choreographer Alexandra Cummins<\/strong>). The best part of the show: a brief, inspired shadow-puppet chase sequence that includes some creative wagon wheel-rolling and pantomime, involving nearly the entire cast. But with only a few bright spots like these, the end results are less than uneven. Set design by Vincent Mothersbaugh<\/strong> and costumes by Erika Hauptman<\/strong> are merely acceptable, but the 10-piece orchestra more than holds its own under the always capable direction of Janis Dunson Wilson<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

To support such a lightweight musical show and bring it across to the audience, you need the assurance of blazing triple-threat performers combined with excellent casting, directing, set design and choreography. Without the help of this talent, a weak story stays weak, and just limps along. \u201cSeven Brides\u201d at 6th<\/sup> Street could use a crutch, maybe two.<\/p>\n

When:\u00a0 Now through September 16, 2012 <\/strong>
\n8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays<\/strong>
\n2 p.m. Sundays<\/strong>
\n2 p.m. <\/strong>Saturday September 15 <\/strong>
\nTickets:\u00a0 $15 to $35<\/strong>
\nLocation:\u00a0 6th<\/sup> Street Playhouse \u2013 GK Hardt Theatre, 52 West 6th<\/sup> Street, Santa Rosa CA
\nPhone:\u00a0 707-523-4185 <\/strong>
\nWebsite:\u00a0 <\/strong>www.6thstreetplayhouse.com<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Photos by Eric Chazankin Reviewed by Suzanne and Greg Angeo (Saturday, August 25, 2012 evening performance) Disappointing Launch for 6th Street\u2019s New Season For its season kickoff last year, 6th…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3246","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-greg-suzanne-angeo"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"