[NEohioPAL] 'Hobbit' rings out at Solon Arts Center

Thu Jul 24 17:29:28 PDT 2003

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Wednesday, July 16

The Record-Courier.

=20

'Hobbit' rings out at Solon Arts Center

by Scott Shriner RPC Associate Editor

=20

Hobbits are everywhere these days.  They're in the movies, in books, on =
Web sites, in toy stores, on T-shirts, lunch boxes, posters - you name =
the place and these undersized, furry-footed, Shire-dwelling folk are =
likely to make an appearance.  And now, one of the most celebrated of =
these literary characters has crawled out of his hole in the ground to =
star as the title character in a musical stage version of the book that =
made him famous, showing through July 26 at Solon Center for the Arts.

=20

"The Hobbit," based on the novel considered the prologue to author =
J.R.R. Tolkien's immensely popular trilogy "The Lord of the Rings," =
features an energetic cast of 28 local children, ranging in age from =
about 8 to 16. =20

It tells the story of the small, peace-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins =
(played by 13-year-old Andrew Miller) and the wholly unexpected =
adventure he finds himself entangled in.  A group of 13 dwarves led by =
Thorin (Molly Lashner, who, like the rest of her mostly female fellow =
dwarves, sports an unshaven look courtesy of the show's make-up artists) =
wants to recruit the unsuspecting hobbit to slay an evil dragon named =
Smaug and steal back the sacred Arkenstone their fire-breathing foe took =
from Thorin's grandfather.  But Bilbo has no interest in quests or =
burglary. "No, thank you," he sings in the first of his several solo =
numbers. "Domesticity is a hobbit's habit."  However the sorcerer =
Gandalf (played by Ryan Jagru, a student at St. Peter Chanel High School =
in Bedford, who is unrecognizable under prosthetic aged wizard mask =
complete with an elongated nose), convinces him to tag along. "Are you a =
hobbit or a mouse?" he demands of Bilbo as the two perform a well done =
dueling duet. =20

The show is a lot of fun. It's amusing and exciting and great for =
children.  Adults, too, will be impressed with the stamina these =
youngsters have - it's quite an accomplishment for a group this young to =
carry a two-and-a-half show (with a 25-minute intermission) by =
themselves. They should be proud of their accomplishment.=20

=20

The theater's rotating stage allows Michael Guy-James' impressive set =
design to easily provide the illusion that the audience is accompanying =
Bilbo and the dwarfs on a long journey through forests, caves, mountains =
and dungeons.  A battle between the dwarfs and a group of goblins sports =
some well-executed choreography.   The outfits, expertly and colorfully =
designed by Guy-James, are pretty hard to forget. It must have been a =
big job to costume the production. Bilbo's journey includes run-ins with =
giant spiders, elves (who have less than effective interrogation =
techniques; "you still won't talk? Even after all that good food and =
drink?!" on of them says to Thorin), the mysterious swamp monster =
Gollum, and of course, the trio of trolls.  =20

=20

Oh, the trolls! Resembling a cross between "Planet of Apes" aliens, =
abominable snowman and belligerent Care Bears, these grunting bad guys =
are absolutely hysterical.

=20

Their song "Eating," through difficult to understand due to the giant =
troll getup muffling the performers' voices prompted the biggest =
applause - and laughter - from the opening night audience July 11.  And =
in the interest of not spoiling the eventual appearance of the dragon, =
I'll just say Kudos again to costume Guy-James for helping Ethan =
Rosenfeld, as Smaug, nearly steal the show.  =20

=20

Directors Sean Booker and Patti Susman chose a good Bilbo. Miller's role =
is enormous - the lead hobbit is in virtually every scene and has lots =
of dialogue and music to handle.

The young man throws himself into it with lots of enthusiasm and =
terrific, often humorous physical and facial reactions to his =
predicaments. His clear, articulate singing voice is showcased =
especially well on the songs "Tale of Two Frogs" (which also benefit =
from the dwarf ensemble's lively vocal sound) and "I Want to go Home".

=20

Musical Director Karen L. Prasser, also the director, and percussionist =
Troy Mamas provide a solid accompaniment for the children on their =
musical journey through Middle- Earth. (Both Prasser and Mamas provide =
music at Hudson's Gloria Dei Lutheran Church as well.)

=20

Tolkien junkies will probably notice that the show takes some liberties =
with the book's story, which do not at all detract from the enjoyment of =
the production and are often quite clear and appropriate given the young =
age range the show is intended for.   Changes include the addition of a =
considerably happier ending than readers may remember. There's also a =
wife for Bilbo, as well as a nephew who, though never called by name, is =
clearly meant to be Frodo, the main character of the trilogy which =
follows. (Sure, Frodo wouldn't have been born yet, but so what? It's =
worth it to hear lines like Bilbo saying to him, "Tell him I'm off =
killing dragons!")

=20

Through July 19, audience members ought to come a half hour early and =
watch the free "preview" to the play in the center's gallery at 7:30 =
p.m. Three women, including SCA dance faculty member Rachel Grumblatt, =
perform a stirring interpretive dance featuring Tolkien's poetry from =
the "Lord of the Rings" set to music.=20

=20

"The Hobbit" will continue Friday and Saturday nights at 8 through July =
26.

=20

Solon Center for the Arts is at 6315 S.O.M Center Road, right by Solon =
City Hall.

=20

Call 440-337-1400 for tickets.=20

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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>Wednesday, July 16</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>The Record-Courier.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace =
prefix =3D o ns =3D=20
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New =
Roman"=20
size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">=91Hobbit=92 rings out at <?xml:namespace =
prefix =3D st1 ns =3D=20
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"=20
/><st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Solon</st1:PlaceName>=20
<st1:PlaceName>Arts</st1:PlaceName>=20
<st1:PlaceType>Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>by Scott Shriner RPC Associate Editor</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT =
face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>Hobbits are everywhere these days.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes"> =20
</SPAN>They=92re in the movies, in books, on Web sites, in toy stores, =
on=20
T-shirts, lunch boxes, posters - you name the place and these =
undersized,=20
furry-footed, Shire-dwelling folk are likely to make an appearance.<SPAN =

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  And now, one of the most =
celebrated of=20
these literary characters has crawled out of his hole in the ground to =
star as=20
the title character in a musical stage version of the book that made him =
famous,=20
showing through July 26 at =
<st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Solon</st1:PlaceName>=20
<st1:PlaceType>Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for the =
Arts.
<o:p> </o:p>
=93The Hobbit,=94 based on the novel considered the prologue to =
author J.R.R.=20
Tolkien=92s immensely popular trilogy =93The Lord of the Rings,=94 =
features an=20
energetic cast of 28 local children, ranging in age from about 8 to =
16.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  <BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break">
It tells the story of the small, peace-loving hobbit Bilbo =
Baggins=20
(played by 13-year-old Andrew Miller) and the wholly unexpected =
adventure he=20
finds himself entangled in.  =
A group=20
of 13 dwarves led by Thorin (Molly Lashner, who, like the rest of her =
mostly=20
female fellow dwarves, sports an unshaven look courtesy of the show=92s =
make-up=20
artists) wants to recruit the unsuspecting hobbit to slay an evil dragon =
named=20
Smaug and steal back the sacred Arkenstone their fire-breathing foe took =
from=20
Thorin=92s grandfather.  =
But Bilbo has=20
no interest in quests or burglary. =93No, thank you,=94 he sings in the =
first of his=20
several solo numbers. =93Domesticity is a hobbit=92s habit.=94<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  However the sorcerer Gandalf =
(played by=20
Ryan Jagru, a student at St. Peter Chanel High School in Bedford, who is =

unrecognizable under prosthetic aged wizard mask complete with an =
elongated=20
nose), convinces him to tag along. =93Are you a hobbit or a mouse?=94 he =
demands of=20
Bilbo as the two perform a well done dueling duet.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  <BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break"><BR=20
style=3D"mso-special-character: line-break">
The show is a lot of fun. It=92s amusing and exciting and great =
for=20
children.  Adults, too, =
will be=20
impressed with the stamina these youngsters have - it=92s quite an =
accomplishment=20
for a group this young to carry a two-and-a-half show (with a 25-minute=20
intermission) by themselves. They should be proud of their =
accomplishment.=20

<o:p> </o:p>
<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">The theater=92s rotating stage allows Michael =
Guy-James=92=20
impressive set design to easily provide the illusion that the audience =
is=20
accompanying Bilbo and the dwarfs on a long journey through forests, =
caves,=20
mountains and dungeons.  A =
battle=20
between the dwarfs and a group of goblins sports some well-executed=20
choreography.   The =
outfits,=20
expertly and colorfully designed by Guy-James, are pretty hard to =
forget. It=20
must have been a big job to costume the production. Bilbo=92s journey =
includes=20
run-ins with giant spiders, elves (who have less than effective =
interrogation=20
techniques; =93you still won=92t talk? Even after all that good food and =
drink?!=94 on=20
of them says to Thorin), the mysterious swamp monster Gollum, and of =
course, the=20
trio of trolls. <SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  
<o:p> </o:p>
Oh, the trolls! Resembling a cross between =93Planet of Apes=94 =
aliens,=20
abominable snowman and belligerent Care Bears, these grunting bad guys =
are=20
absolutely hysterical.
<o:p> </o:p>
<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman">Their song =93Eating,=94 through difficult to =
understand due=20
to the giant troll getup muffling the performers=92 voices prompted the =
biggest=20
applause - and laughter - from the opening night audience July 11.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  And in the interest of not =
spoiling the=20
eventual appearance of the dragon, I=92ll just say Kudos again to =
costume=20
Guy-James for helping Ethan Rosenfeld, as Smaug, nearly steal the =
show.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  <SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> 
<o:p> </o:p>
Directors Sean Booker and Patti Susman chose a good Bilbo. =
Miller=92s role=20
is enormous - the lead hobbit is in virtually every scene and has lots =
of=20
dialogue and music to handle.
The young man throws himself into it with lots of enthusiasm =
and=20
terrific, often humorous physical and facial reactions to his =
predicaments. His=20
clear, articulate singing voice is showcased especially well on the =
songs =93Tale=20
of Two Frogs=94 (which also benefit from the dwarf ensemble=92s lively =
vocal sound)=20
and =93I Want to go Home=94.
<o:p> </o:p>
Musical Director Karen L. Prasser, also the director, and =
percussionist=20
Troy Mamas provide a solid accompaniment for the children on their =
musical=20
journey through Middle- Earth. (Both Prasser and Mamas provide music at=20
<st1:City><st1:place>Hudson</st1:place></st1:City>=92s Gloria Dei =
Lutheran Church=20
as well.)
<o:p> </o:p>
Tolkien junkies will probably notice that the show takes some =
liberties=20
with the book=92s story, which do not at all detract from the enjoyment =
of the=20
production and are often quite clear and appropriate given the young age =
range=20
the show is intended for. <SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Changes include the =
addition of a=20
considerably happier ending than readers may remember. There=92s also a =
wife for=20
Bilbo, as well as a nephew who, though never called by name, is clearly =
meant to=20
be Frodo, the main character of the trilogy which follows. (Sure, Frodo =
wouldn=92t=20
have been born yet, but so what? It=92s worth it to hear lines like =
Bilbo saying=20
to him, =93Tell him I=92m off killing dragons!=94)
<o:p> </o:p>
Through July 19, audience members ought to come a half hour =
early and=20
watch the free =93preview=94 to the play in the center=92s gallery at =
7:30 p.m. Three=20
women, including SCA dance faculty member Rachel Grumblatt, perform a =
stirring=20
interpretive dance featuring Tolkien=92s poetry from the =93Lord of the =
Rings=94 set=20
to music. 
<o:p> </o:p>
=93The Hobbit=94 will continue Friday and Saturday nights at 8 =
through July=20
26.
<o:p> </o:p>
<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"><st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Solon</st1:PlaceName> =

<st1:PlaceType>Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for the Arts is at=20
<st1:Street><st1:address>6315 S.O.M Center =
Road</st1:address></st1:Street>,=20
right by <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Solon</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType>City=20
Hall</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.
<o:p> </o:p>
Call 440-337-1400 for tickets. =
</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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