Theater Review: Because of Winn Dixie -- Goodspeed

Bowdie and Josie Todd with the cast of Goodspeed Musicals Because of Winn Dixie, extended through Sept. 5 at The Goodspeed. Photo by Diane Sobolewski.

NOTE: Due to previously scheduled projects, David Poe and Kacie Sheik will exit Goodspeed Musicals’ Because of Winn Dixie. Starting August 14, Jacqueline Petroccia (Lincoln Center, Barrington Stage) will join the cast as Jeanne, single mom to two rollicking Dewberry boys. She will be joined by Jesse Lenat(The Public Theater, Signature Theatre) who will take on the role of Otis, the misunderstood pet store man in Goodspeed’s summer hit that has been extended due to popular demand. Because of Winn Dixie is now playing through Sept 5 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, CT
Because of Winn Dixie
Book and Lyrics by: Nell Benjamin, based on the Novel by: Kate DiCamillo
Music by: Duncan Sheik
Choreographer: Chris Bailey
Animal Direction: William Berloni
Director: John Rando

By Lauren Yarger
Because of Winn Dixie at Connecticut's Goodspeed Opera House restores our faith in a wholesome, fun, moving story as a viable theater offering. Can I get an "awooo!"?

This charmer, with music by Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening) a book by Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Mean Girls), based on the popular young people's novel by Kate DiCamillo is full of kids, a dog, faith, laughter, friendship and second chances. What's not to love? Especially when you see the tons of kids in the audience. In a climate where most new theater offerings (and updated revivals) feel the need to push every political and social agenda to be "woke" and justified in the "me-too" environment, it is doggone refreshing (sorry, couldn't resist) to enjoy one that focuses on everyday people with everyday issues in a positive, uplifting way. After all, when times are trying, theater should be a happy release some of the time.

And that is just what Because of Winn Dixie is.  It follows the story of 13-year-old Opal (Josie Todd), who moves to a trailer park with her preacher father (J. Robert Spencer) when her mother leaves them. The preacher has no trouble speaking in front of his new congregation, but communicating with his daughter is tougher as he won't discuss their recent loss. Opal overcomes her loneliness by saving a stray she names after the local grocery store. "Winn Dixie" (Bowdie, trained by Connecticut's Tony-Award-winning animal trainer William Berloni) becomes her constant companion and the dog wins the hearts of the congregation and community members.

They are

• The Dewberry boys, Dunlap and Stevie (Jamie Mann and Jay Hendrix) and their single mom, Jeanne (Kacie Sheik -- yes, she is Duncan's half sister), who starts spending time with the preacher, much to Opal's disapproval
• Slow-witted Callie and Jiggs Thomas  (Crystal Kellogg and Brian Michael Hoffman) and their little peanut of a daughter, Sweetie Pie (Sophia Massa), for whom they want a better life.
• Millie and Carl Wilkinson (Nicole Powell  and John Edwards), who are grieving over the death of their son and who don't know how to communicate with their bookworm daughter, Amanda (Chloë Cheers), whom Opal doesn't like at all.
• Otis (David Poe) , a guitar-playing pet store owner who is treated as an outsider in town because of his prison record.
• Librarian Fanny Block (Isabel Keating (Franny Block)) who entertains the kids with her story times.
• Gloria Dump (Roz Ryan ) the witch who lives in the woods and encourages the kids to add their deepest thoughts and wishes to pages storesd in the bottles hanging from her trees and representing her drinking days of past.

All of the characters are dealing with loss of some kind and the feeling that they don't fit in. Winn Dixie changes all of that, breathes some new life into them and unites them all when he disappears during a terrible storm (Lighting and Sound Design by Jeff Croiter and Jay Hilton, respectively.) Choreographer Chris Bailey wisely keeps movement on the subtle side and coordinates nicely so the storytelling isn't overshadowed.

Even if the story weren't engaging, the show would be a hit just because of Winn Dixie, or Bowdie, rather. The pooch, described as a mix between a poodle and something larger,  receives applause on entrance (the audience  is shocked by his large size) and delights as he hits all of his marks and cues perfectly.  There were a lot of "awwwww"s from the audience and even more smiles throughout the production. Here's hoping this musical ends up on Broadway and tours for a long time around a country in need of some "aaaaw" and smiles.

A few things need to happen before that can happen. While there are some nice ballads and an opportunity for Ryan to show her vocal talents -- her "Bottle Tree Blues" is one of the more entertaining numbers -- Sheik's score needs a boost. The openings of both acts are pretty weak and a number of songs seems to offers tunes that sit on the same few notes (and even still, some of them proved a stretch for some of the younger vocalists). It's a new type of musical for the composer of Spring Awakening and American Psycho, but he's up to the challenge.

Donyale Werle's sets are simple, with easy changes between the church, the library, the trailer and other locales. Lighting needs some tweaking, however as there are some awful glares and color and scene changes are telegraphed.

But if anyone can bring it together, it's Director John Rando, who has helmed another family-friendly musical on Broadway, A Christmas Story: The Musical. (He won the Tony for Urinetown). This one is worth tweaking. Kids love DiCamillo's book and the movie on which it was based. The stage musical seems the next natural incarnation of the story and can entertain audiences for years, just like that other wholesome musical starring a dog -- also trained by Berloni -- Annie.

More information:

The run has been extended through Se[t. 5 at Goodspeed, 6 Main St., East Haddam, CT. Performances are Wednesday at 2 and 7:30 pm; Thursday at 7:30 pm (with select performances at 2); Friday at 8 pm; Saturday at 3  and 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm (with select performances at 6:30). Tickets: 860-873-8668; goodspeed.org

Additional credits:

Costumer Designer: Emily Rebholz; Wig and Hair Designer, Mark Adam Rampmeyer; Music Supervisor / Orchestrator,  Jason Hart;  Music Director, Adam Souza

Additional casting: Ryan Halsaver (Townsperson); Mackenzie Warren (Townsperson)

Open Caption Performance: Friday, July 26, 8 pm. Open-captioning is a service that displays the text of a show simultaneously with the performance without the use of any special equipment by the patron. The words are displayed on a 4-foot by 1-foot LCD screen located near the edge of the stage and are thus “open” to anyone within view.

 

The Scottsboro Boys -- Playhouse on Park

Troy Valjean Rucker as Haywood Patterson, left center, and Trishawn Paul as Eugene Williams, right center. Photo: Meredith Long

The Scottsboro Boys
Music and Lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb
Directed by Sean Harris
Choreographed by Darlene Zoller
Playhouse on Park
Through Aug. 4

By Lauren Yarger
What's It All About?
The story of nine African-American men falsely accused of rape in 1930s Alabama (book by David Thompson). The case became a sensation as the Scottsboro Boys spent years in jail through multiple trials and court appeals while outrage across the north mounted at their treatment in the Jim-Crow-era South.  With original direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, the musical received 12 Tony Award nominations. The music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago; Cabaret) are framed as a minstrel show, featuring an Interlocutor  (Dennis Holland) -- an emcee of sorts -- and Mr. Bones (Ivory McKay) and Mr. Tambor (Torrey Linderas). It was, and still is, one of the most brilliant musicals I have seen.

Troy Valjean Rucker stars as Haywood Patterson, one of the accused who becomes a sort of leader and attempts multiple escapes. While incarcerated, he learns to read and write and it's his story, written in a journal, that is told through the guise of the entertaining minstrel show. Also starring in this production are Renee J Sutherland as "The Lady," who shadows the events and whose connection becomes clear later,  and Cedric Greeneas Olen Montgomery, one of the nine.

Rounding out the cast  are current students in musical theater training programs:
Grant Reynolds (Charles Weems/ Victoria Price) is a rising senior at Carnegie Mellon University, Justin Sturgis (Roy Wright) is currently a student at NYU Tisch, Jerry Hamilton (Andy Wright) will be a sophomore at the Hartt School, Jaylan Evans (Ozie Powell/Ruby Bates) is a rising senior at ELON, Cedrick Ekra (Clarence) is a rising sophomore at Emerson College, Alex Robertson (Willie Roberson) is a rising senior at The Hartt School, and Trishawn Paul, who plays 13 year old Eugene Williams, is currently a sophomore at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts.

What Are the Highlights:

It's just a pleasure to see this musical get a run. The show isn't produced often (right just became available) since the show failed to win any Tonys and was embroiled in controversy as protesters objected to the use of a minstrel show because the actual entertainment form used black face. These protests were misguided in my opinion, as the show, and the minstrel show format, are a brilliant commentary on the unjust and ignorant laws and thinking that allowed nine innocent men to be arrested and sentenced to death for a crime they didn't commit. The story is one that needs to be told, and the book by David Thompson partnered with lyrics and music by Kander and Ebb, do it very well with good performances by the ensemble. The show gets a solid production helmed by Playhouse's dynamic duo of Director Sean Harris and Choreographer Darlene Zoller. Melanie Guernin (In the Heights) returns as musical director.

What Are the Lowlights?

More depth is needed for the Interlocutor to make clear his two-faced personality (representing those who would be in favor of the prejudiced laws). He is always smiling, pretending to be the Scottsboro Boys' friend, but underneath, there is a man who needs to be in control and who feels an entitled superiority. When his authority is challenged, he should become downright nasty and there should be more fear and understanding among the Scottsboro Boys as his true self is revealed. 

More information:
The Scottsboro Boys runs at Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford, through Aug. 4. Tickets are $40-$50: 860-523-5900 x10 or visitwww.playhouseonpark.org. 

Additional credits:

Melanie Guernin, musical director; David Lewis, scenic design; Vilinda McGregor, lighting design; Rider Q. Stanton, Sound design;

The Playhouse will partner with the Connecticut Historical Society, in conjunction with its current exhibit, Black Citizenship In The Age Of Jim Crow, for a panel discussion from 5:30 to 7 pm July 30  This event is free and open to the public. Panelists discussing the themes of racism and resistance explored in the exhibition and in the production include the Honorable Richard A. Robinson, chief justice of the CT Supreme Court, Professor Diana R. Paulin of Trinity College and Frank Mitchell, executive director of the Amistad Center for Arts and Culture. The panel will be moderated by Attorney Valerie Caldwell-Gaines. Light refreshments will be served at the event at the Historical Society, 1 Elizabeth St., Hartford. Museum galleries will be open before the program. RSVP: rsvp@chs.org; 860-236-5621 ext. 238.  Questions? Contact Natalie Belanger, adult programs manager, natalie_belanger@chs.org. 

Talkbacks with the cast are scheduled after every performance during this run.
An interview with Director Sean Harris is available at https://playhouseonparkct.wordpress.com.