For their inaugural Phoenix production, the Prather family made it clear that their Broadway Palm West Dinner Theatre intended to establish themselves with impressively choreographed and danced musical theatre productions. They succeeded in impressing this reviewer. Their sophomore production provides even more proof that this company plans to sweep their growing audiences off their feet with high stepping dance. Director and Choreographer Brian J. Enzman has infused the cute musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with the frenetic energy necessary for its mass courtship. He's collected a talented ensemble that performs the musical numbers with precision. While the company has continued and even improved their trend of movement prowess, they also repeated an unexpected trend with a leading man who looks and moves the part, but who is vocally weaker than the rest.
The opening Friday night found the theatre packed. It appears the chef has his meat dishes down, with a very moist pot roast and flavorful gravy the best of the choices, an interesting breaded chicken, and a solid ham at the carving table. As is usual for a buffet, it's best to steer clear of the pastas, neither of which survives under the heat lamps. The starchy side dishes are bland, the mixed vegetables are waxy, and the dessert table is hardly worth the effort. This is one time where I'd recommend loading up on the main dishes to get your money's worth. While the supporting players may not have worked in the buffet, the same could not be said of the subsequent show.
The theatre piece, based on the 1954 Gene DePaul & Johnny Mercer film musical, transplants Plutarch's Roman legend of the Sabine women to pioneer-era Oregon. Eldest brother Adam has returned to his rustic log cabin with Millie, a new wife from a whirlwind romance. Millie sets about finding wives for Adam's remaining six brothers. While she's trying to convert the collective from fighters to lovers to get them wives from town, Adam decides to take an easier route, abducting his brother's sweethearts instead.
The necessity of finding seven dance-proficient women is not as daunting a task as finding 12 acrobatically inclined men to perform the brothers and their rival suitors. Enzman has brought almost the entire cast from out of town, and they work to excellent effect. The group is very professional, very dynamic, and full of energy. Jennifer Davis offers a perfect Millie. She mixes her characters sweetness and power well, and has a beautiful voice. While he looks and acts like the gruff Adam, and can move well, Paul Gregory Nelson has a wavering and unsure voice that fortunately doesn't hinder his performance too much.
Each of the separate ensembles of the suitors, the brothers, and their brides are quite enjoyable, bringing life to Enzman's extensive and oft taxing choreography. This is a dance vehicle, and the cast is up to the challenge. Highlights include the theatrics of the Social Dance and the energetic Spring Dance. Their vocal presentations are every bit as good as their movement.
Timothy Slope's colorful and color-coded costumes add a great flourish to John C. Rager's set and Russell Thompson's lighting. The theatre is still experiencing microphone problems, and there are a few times when Musical Director JR McAlexander's orchestra threatens to overpower some soloists. Despite that, the five-piece orchestra does a good job with the bright score.
Thusfar, Broadway Palm West is two-for-two. Their desire to bring flashy musical entertainment to the valley has worked in our favor, and seeing how many people they've been able to attract after only a few months in town has me believing that we'll be enjoying their perky offerings for years to come.
Production Details:
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Book by Lawrence Kasha & David Landay, Music
by Gene DePaul, Lyrics by Johnny Mercer, and New
Songs by Al Kasha & Joel Hirschhorn
Broadway Palm West Dinner Theatre, Mesa (For a
map to location, click this
link)
(480) 325-6700
January 4th - February 23rd, 2002