[NEohioPAL]Tribune review of Kent Trumbull's "Children of Eden"
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Fri Jul 30 10:35:35 PDT 2004
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CHILDREN OF EDEN AT KENT TRUMBULL THEATRE -
3 MORE PEFORMANCES
JULY 30 - AUG 1
The Cast Features:
Father - Troy Ayers
Adam - Kyle Merritt
Eve - Shaina Vencel
Cain - Jason A. Green
Abel - Jonathon Mercer
Young Cain - Emily Schrader
Young Abel - Makayla Robinson
Snake - Alyssa Connelly, Bil Hrusovksy, Brian Gillespie, Angela Elston, Lori
Freede
Noah - Frank McCauley
Mama Noah - Connie Cassidy
Japheth - Thomas Mastroianni
Yonah - Alex May
Shem - Mike Young
Ham - Brent Whetstone
Aphra - Stephanie DeChant
Aysha - Erica Poff
Storytellers & Animals- Jenny Bitner, Jeff Butts, Jason Connelly, Erica
Garfield, Hannah Gillespie, Rachel Hurd, Shel Jamison, Dave Lynn, Annie Miller,
Kadie Morelli, Chris Rapinz, Joe Asente, Leah Bitner, Elizabeth Elston, Aaron
Fall, Makenzie James, Andy Malys, Ali Ozimek, Natalie Rink, Katie Schrader,
Melissa Wasser, Hannah Waterman
Tribune Chronicle Review - Sunday, July 18th - by Patty Kimerer
KENT CREATES MUSICAL OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS
CHAMPION - Oh, those ungrateful kids. Parents give and they give. But waht do
you get in return?
It's one of the age-old questions and it is being asked in a big way, as
the Kent Trumbull Theatre's Summer Stock company presents Stephen Schwartz and
John Caird's "Children of Eden."
The local performance, directed by Tom Hitmar, debuted Friday night to a
capacity crowd. And from the opening number of the first act, this musical
about God the Father and former residents of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve,
was lively.
The play is based on certain books of the Old Testament of the Bilble and
opens with the familier story of Adam and Eve. As the tale goes, the good
Lord created them, asking only that they refrain from eating fruit off the Tree
of Knowledge. And while many of the play's basics are taken from the Old
Testament, Schwartz and Caird certainly used a bit of poetic license when
paraphrasing from the Good Book.
For instance, God the Father is portrayed in a rather stern light, much
more intolerant than the Bible teaches.
As Troy Ayers, who plays the Father, knows, anyone tackling the role of
The Almighty has got some mighty shoes to fill. But he does a heavenly job
leading this large ensemble.
Ayers has got a tremendous voice, as evidenced in the opening number "Let
there Be" and in various duets/company pieces, particularly "The Hardest Part
of Love" with Frank McCauley, who plays Noah.
Ayers' voice is strong and commanding when it is called for and soft and
forgiving where needed.
As for the first couple, they, too, turn out a nice performance. Shaina
Vencel as Eve is all-at-once mature and child-like in her role; she is
simultaneously sympathetic and malevolent. But when it's time for her solos such as
"The Spark of Creation", Vencel shows she's got the chops.
Eve endures a pretty bad rap in "Children of Eden" having single-handedly
bitten the forbidden apple and then practically tricked Adam, played by Kyle
Merritt, into joining her in wisdom.
Truth be told, Schwartz and Caird paint Adam as almost daffy, albeit true
to Eve when Father kicks only her out of Eden, another deviation from the
Bible story.
But regardless of how much the play does or does not follow the Old
Testament as it is written in most Judeo-Christian Bibles, the local production of
"Children of Eden" is a decidedly spirited effort.
Much credit needs to be given to Jason Fair, who, as conductor of the
orchestra, adds real depth to the play. Ditto lighting designer Leslie Brown,
whose staff provides authentic lightning, starry skies, and daylight over the
course of the play.
The support cast is considerable and everyone does their job happliy and
well - particularly the extras portraying kangaroos, turtles, zebras, eagles,
and other various beasts of burden in the Garden of Eden and Noah's Ark.
As McCauley's Noah discovered in one scene, it is not only dangerous to
work opposite children and animals, but apparently children dressed as animals,
as proved by the cutie pie bunny rabbit who upstaged him to the audience's
delight.
But the hands-down show stealer was Mama Noah, Connie Cassidy. Not only
did she provide perfectly timed comedic relief at every conceivable
opportunity, but her amazing singing talent literally rocked the house when she belted
out, "Ain't it Good?" It was.
There is so much to take in during "Children of Eden" that the 2 1/2-plus
hours of play time flies by. Notable are Alex's May's sweet portrayal of
Yonah (and her correspondingly engaging singing voice), Jason Green's fiery turn
as Cain, and the collective efforts of Brian Gillespie, Bil Hrusovsky, Angela
Elston, Alyssa Connelly, and Lori Freede, whose combined role as the sinister
serpent was wickedly amusing. Little Emily Schrader and Makayla Robinson, as
the young Cain and Abel respectively showed great promise with their stage
presence.
So, how do Adam and Eve and all of their offspring fare? Who makes it to
the ark in time? Does it all end up the same way on stage as it does in the
Bible? Better grab a ticket to "Children of Eden" before the last show to find
out.
www.tribunechronicle.com
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<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT size=3D4><U>CHILDREN OF EDEN</U> AT KENT TRUMBULL=20=
THEATRE - </FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT size=3D4>3 MORE PEFORMANCES</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT size=3D4>JULY 30 - AUG 1</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><U>The Cast Features</U>:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Father - Troy Ayers</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Adam - Kyle Merritt</DIV>
<DIV>Eve - Shaina Vencel</DIV>
<DIV>Cain - Jason A. Green</DIV>
<DIV>Abel - Jonathon Mercer</DIV>
<DIV>Young Cain - Emily Schrader</DIV>
<DIV>Young Abel - Makayla Robinson</DIV>
<DIV>Snake - Alyssa Connelly, Bil Hrusovksy, Brian Gillespie, Angela Elston,=
Lori Freede</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Noah - Frank McCauley</DIV>
<DIV>Mama Noah - Connie Cassidy</DIV>
<DIV>Japheth - Thomas Mastroianni</DIV>
<DIV>Yonah - Alex May</DIV>
<DIV>Shem - Mike Young</DIV>
<DIV>Ham - Brent Whetstone</DIV>
<DIV>Aphra - Stephanie DeChant</DIV>
<DIV>Aysha - Erica Poff</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Storytellers & Animals- Jenny Bitner, Jeff Butts, Jason Connelly, E=
rica Garfield, Hannah Gillespie, Rachel Hurd, Shel Jamison, Dave Lynn, Annie=
Miller, Kadie Morelli, Chris Rapinz, Joe Asente, Leah Bitner, Elizabe=
th Elston, Aaron Fall, Makenzie James, Andy Malys, Ali Ozimek, Natalie Rink,=
Katie Schrader, Melissa Wasser, Hannah Waterman</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Tribune Chronicle Review - Sunday, July 18th - by Patty Kimerer </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3>KENT CREATES MUSICAL OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS</FONT></DIV=
>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3>CHAMPION - Oh, those ungrateful kids. Parents give and t=
hey give. But waht do you get in return?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> It's one of the age-old questions and=
it is being asked in a big way, as the Kent Trumbull Theatre's Summer Stock=
company presents Stephen Schwartz and John Caird's "Children of Eden."</FON=
T></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> The local performance, directed by To=
m Hitmar, debuted Friday night to a capacity crowd. And from the opening num=
ber of the first act, this musical about God the Father and former residents=
of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, was lively.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> The play is based on certain books of=
the Old Testament of the Bilble and opens with the familier story of Adam a=
nd Eve. As the tale goes, the good Lord created them, asking only that they=20=
refrain from eating fruit off the Tree of Knowledge. And while many of the p=
lay's basics are taken from the Old Testament, Schwartz and Caird certainly=20=
used a bit of poetic license when paraphrasing from the Good Book.</FONT></D=
IV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> For instance, God the Father is portr=
ayed in a rather stern light, much more intolerant than the Bible teaches.</=
FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> As Troy Ayers, who plays the Father,=20=
knows, anyone tackling the role of The Almighty has got some mighty shoes to=
fill. But he does a heavenly job leading this large ensemble.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> Ayers has got a tremendous voice, as=20=
evidenced in the opening number "Let there Be" and in various duets/company=20=
pieces, particularly "The Hardest Part of Love" with Frank McCauley, who pla=
ys Noah.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> Ayers' voice is strong and commanding=
when it is called for and soft and forgiving where needed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> As for the first couple, they, too, t=
urn out a nice performance. Shaina Vencel as Eve is all-at-once mature and c=
hild-like in her role; she is simultaneously sympathetic and malevolent. But=
when it's time for her solos such as "The Spark of Creation", Vencel shows=20=
she's got the chops.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> Eve endures a pretty bad rap in "Chil=
dren of Eden" having single-handedly bitten the forbidden apple and then pra=
ctically tricked Adam, played by Kyle Merritt, into joining her in wisdom.</=
FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> Truth be told, Schwartz and Caird pai=
nt Adam as almost daffy, albeit true to Eve when Father kicks only her out o=
f Eden, another deviation from the Bible story.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> But regardless of how much the play d=
oes or does not follow the Old Testament as it is written in most Judeo-Chri=
stian Bibles, the local production of "Children of Eden" is a decidedly spir=
ited effort.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> Much credit needs to be given to Jaso=
n Fair, who, as conductor of the orchestra, adds real depth to the play. Dit=
to lighting designer Leslie Brown, whose staff provides authentic lightning,=
starry skies, and daylight over the course of the play.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> The support cast is considerable and=20=
everyone does their job happliy and well - particularly the extras portrayin=
g kangaroos, turtles, zebras, eagles, and other various beasts of burden in=20=
the Garden of Eden and Noah's Ark.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> As McCauley's Noah discovered in one=20=
scene, it is not only dangerous to work opposite children and animals, but a=
pparently children dressed as animals, as proved by the cutie pie bunny rabb=
it who upstaged him to the audience's delight.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> But the hands-down show stealer was M=
ama Noah, Connie Cassidy. Not only did she provide perfectly timed comedic r=
elief at every conceivable opportunity, but her amazing singing talent liter=
ally rocked the house when she belted out, "Ain't it Good?" It was.</FONT></=
DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> There is so much to take in during "C=
hildren of Eden" that the 2 1/2-plus hours of play time flies by. Notable ar=
e Alex's May's sweet portrayal of Yonah (and her correspondingly engaging si=
nging voice), Jason Green's fiery turn as Cain, and the collective efforts o=
f Brian Gillespie, Bil Hrusovsky, Angela Elston, Alyssa Connelly, and Lori F=
reede, whose combined role as the sinister serpent was wickedly amusing. Lit=
tle Emily Schrader and Makayla Robinson, as the young Cain and Abel respecti=
vely showed great promise with their stage presence.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3> So, how do Adam and Eve and all of th=
eir offspring fare? Who makes it to the ark in time? Does it all end up the=20=
same way on stage as it does in the Bible? Better grab a ticket to "Children=
of Eden" before the last show to find out.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><A href=3D"http://www.tribunechronicle.com">www.tribunec=
hronicle.com</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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