Valley Broadway Series' Footloose at Gammage Auditorium
(out of 
)Mark S.P. Turvin
(home office) (602) 912-0117
I can be reached for comment via e-mail at: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
Reviewed 7/9/99
(out of )There has been a resurgence of American musicals on Broadway, from Frank Wildhorn to '80s media-based concoctions, such as Bright Lights, Big City. Source material has been reversed from the original trend of musicals into movies, and now big and small screen hits are being mined, like Fame and The Civil War. At first glance, the '80s pop hit of Footloose seems like an odd candidate for musicalization. Surprise, though, because in execution, the show now seems like the perfect choice, as it's dance base and mild social conscience keep it entertaining and just dramatic enough to propel the songs, old and new, that give the evening its voice and accompaniment.
Most everyone remembers the Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer and John Lithgow flick, pitting a teenaged newcomer to a small Midwestern town against a tyrannical preacher whose broken heart has lead to his pushing a ban against dancing in the town limits, with the prize being the preacher's daughter. The musical has done a very good job in preserving the central battle and staging the crucial scenes in the movie, while successfully changing what wouldn't easily transition for the sake of continuity and simplicity. While this is not a deep show, or a powerful one, it is very cute, with some very good songs (including the four rock songs most associated with the movie) and some duds, supercharged dancing, and just enough of a book to tie everything together.
In this touring production brought into town by ASU's Valley Broadway Series, the highlight is A.C. Ciulla's explosive choreography and Walter Bobbie's breakneck direction, as well as a chorus that exudes teenage energy. While the leads are not quite as impressive, they are solid enough to move the book from dance number to dance number, and are helped out by some wonderful supporting cast members, such as Christian Borle as the nutty hick sidekick, Willard, and Stephanie St. James as the squeaky Rusty. And while some of the new songs aren't very impressive, most notably the two monotonous "soliloquies" for preacher Shaw, "Heaven Help Me" and "I Confess," these are easily counterbalanced by the very good songs "Somebody's Eyes" and especially the subtle "Learning to Be Silent."
As rebellious Ren, Joe Machota is solid in voice and movement, but his take on the Kevin Bacon role errs on the side of musical theatre, making him much less edgy. As pastor Shaw, Daren Kelly is a tad too stereotypically stiff, and struggles to find harmony in his rather flat solo songs. Niki Scalera is a bit better in voice and movement, but has also toned down too much the wildchild part of the preacher's daughter, Ariel. The best of the leads is Mary Gordon Murray as the long-suffering Preacher's wife, Vi, whose duet with Ren's mom, played by Marsha Waterbury, "Learning to Be Silent," maybe the best dramatic and musical moment in the show.
The chorus is the strength of this show. Their dancing is impressive, their singing nearly on the same level, and they handle their smaller roles with plenty of heart. The finale of Act One is a highlight to this energetic show, with acrobatics conjoined with the choreography.
Keeping Mr. Bobbie's pacing moving at the requisite dizzying speed, John Lee Beatty has designed a simple set that is representational and in which pieces slide on and off, or fly in and out with a precision that brings the show in under two and a half hours. Toni-Leslie James creates costumes that bring the musical into the '90s, and fit the characters to a tee. Ken Billington's lighting is alternately subtle and blaring, but fit well with the show's theme and execution. Generally solid is Tony Meola's sound design, which was good considering the challenges of the Gammage space. Kudos go to the energetic conductor, Peter Valentine, who is a show unto himself in the pit.
While it won't win a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Footloose does have plenty of toe-tapping entertainment, hummable tunes, and a touch of a message, and that's more than enough for an entertaining evening of theatre.
Production Details:
Footloose Stage Adaptation by Dean Pitchford
and Walter Bobbie. Music by Tom Snow, Lyrics by
Dean Pitchford. Including Songs by Eric Carmen, Sammy
Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman
Valley Broadway Series
Gammage Auditorium, Tempe
(480) 965-3434
July 6th - July 11th, 1999