[NEohioPAL]Rave Review for PAUL at the Hanna, directed by Neil Thackaberry

Wed Apr 6 06:25:16 PDT 2005

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`Paul' is more theatrical, but songs remain focus

Cleveland show has full costuming, more staging, better lighting effects

The new show Paul: A Musical Journey is jam-packed with soul-satisfying music.
Conceived and composed by Akron's Chuck Myricks, the new piece has moved to 
Playhouse Square's Hanna Theatre in Cleveland after a successful Akron run in 
January. The cast features mostly Akron performers, including Myricks' gospel 
group, Divine Hope, based at Arlington Church of God.
Audiences shouldn't expect a full book musical here: The show is a musical 
chronicling of the Apostle Paul's spiritual journey, through Myricks' songs 
inspired by dramatic moments from the Bible.
They are loosely tied together with the help of short narration, provided on 
opening night Saturday by director Neil Thackaberry (regular narrator Marcus 
Bentley was ill).
The result is still a concert-style performance, although the show has been 
made more theatrical since its Akron premiere with full costuming, more staging 
and better lighting effects.
The singing, for the most part, is excellent. The cast features performers 
who are singers first, not professional actors. Paul features some blocking and 
some basic choreography, but singers often simply stand and listen as others 
sing.
None of Myricks' music has been notated; all the singers have learned it by 
ear.
Akron native Anthony Mills, in the title role, can switch on a dime from a 
sweet, tender introspective number to a full belt that gives you the chills. He 
puts his heart and soul into his role as the persecutor who experiences a 
dramatic conversion to become a champion for Christ.
As one of the early leaders of Christianity, Paul suffered much, including 
beatings, shipwrecks, torture and imprisonment. Some of his most effective 
ministry was done from prison, through his letters.
Some of Mills' most notable numbers include the gorgeously emotional Reaching 
for Me and his R&B duet All the Way, which he performs with Akida Green's 
Jesus.
Green, with his sweet tenor, has the most hauntingly beautiful voice in the 
show. It's a wonder he has time for this show, as he is going through his 
medical residency.
Other nods go out to Trill Cole, who is a highly expressive actor and a fine 
singer as Paul's enemy, Tertullus.
Lennie Green's deep bass vocals as Ananias are ominous in Here We Go Again, 
as the pair discover that Paul has turned against them.
This show features plenty of R&B numbers, soaring ballads, and even some 
rousing pop-style songs.
Willette Blakely of the Chicago area makes the theater feel like a religious 
revival in her powerful I Made it Home, in which she literally jumps up and 
down for joy. Throughout the show, audience members may call out or gesture 
however they see fit.
Some of the catchiest ensemble tunes include the rhythmic Power In Your 
Praise and the upbeat, celebratory pop tune I Thank My God.
Special mentions also go to wonderful tenor Jerome Childers in his aching Be 
God For Me and Phillip Myricks as the corrupt Roman Felix in the humorous show 
tune Lubricate. This number begs for a vaudeville-style dance to be added.
Paul has a secondary love story between the Roman Julius (Jeffrey Richardson) 
and the Jewish Joanna (Robin Parker-Mitchell) that is not well-developed. 
Their duets are also among the least-polished musical numbers.
The show features a seven-piece, onstage band that includes an organ and 
interesting percussive devices such as a rain stick.
The producers, who say Paul has developed a life of its own, plan a four- to 
six-week tour next spring throughout the country. They expect the show to have 
crossover appeal with both black and white audiences. Northeast Ohio 
audiences can say they saw the heartfelt new piece while it was still in its infancy.

Theater critic Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or by e-mail at 
kclawson at thebeaconjournal.com. 

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<H1 style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 3.75pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMIL=
Y: Arial"><FONT size=3D4>`Paul' is more theatrical, but songs remain focus<o=
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N style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT color=3D#666666>Clevela=
nd show has full costuming, more staging, better lighting effects</FONT></SP=
AN></B></SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Aria=
l"><BR><FONT color=3D#666666><IMG SRC=3D"cid:X.MA2.1112793915 at aol.com"  heig=
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<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><!-- beg=
in body-content -->The new show <I>Paul: A Musical Journey</I> is jam-packed=
 with soul-satisfying music.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Conceive=
d and composed by Akron's Chuck Myricks, the new piece has moved to Playhous=
e Square's Hanna Theatre in Cleveland after a successful Akron run in Januar=
y. The cast features mostly Akron performers, including Myricks' gospel grou=
p, Divine Hope, based at Arlington Church of God.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Audience=
s shouldn't expect a full book musical here: The show is a musical chronicli=
ng of the Apostle Paul's spiritual journey, through Myricks' songs inspired=20=
by dramatic moments from the Bible.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">They are=
 loosely tied together with the help of short narration, provided on opening=
 night Saturday by director Neil Thackaberry (regular narrator Marcus Bentle=
y was ill).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The resu=
lt is still a concert-style performance, although the show has been made mor=
e theatrical since its Akron premiere with full costuming, more staging and=20=
better lighting effects.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The sing=
ing, for the most part, is excellent. The cast features performers who are s=
ingers first, not professional actors. <I>Paul </I>features some blocking an=
d some basic choreography, but singers often simply stand and listen as othe=
rs sing.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">None of=20=
Myricks' music has been notated; all the singers have learned it by ear.<o:p=
></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Akron na=
tive Anthony Mills, in the title role, can switch on a dime from a sweet, te=
nder introspective number to a full belt that gives you the chills. He puts=20=
his heart and soul into his role as the persecutor who experiences a dramati=
c conversion to become a champion for Christ.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">As one o=
f the early leaders of Christianity, Paul suffered much, including beatings,=
 shipwrecks, torture and imprisonment. Some of his most effective ministry w=
as done from prison, through his letters.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Some of=20=
Mills' most notable numbers include the gorgeously emotional <I>Reaching for=
 Me </I>and his R&B duet <I>All the Way, </I>which he performs with Akid=
a Green's Jesus.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Green, w=
ith his sweet tenor, has the most hauntingly beautiful voice in the show. It=
's a wonder he has time for this show, as he is going through his medical re=
sidency.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Other no=
ds go out to Trill Cole, who is a highly expressive actor and a fine singer=20=
as Paul's enemy, Tertullus.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Lennie G=
reen's deep bass vocals as Ananias are ominous in <I>Here We Go Again, </I>a=
s the pair discover that Paul has turned against them.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">This sho=
w features plenty of R&B numbers, soaring ballads, and even some rousing=
 pop-style songs.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Willette=
 Blakely of the Chicago area makes the theater feel like a religious revival=
 in her powerful <I>I Made it Home, </I>in which she literally jumps up and=20=
down for joy. Throughout the show, audience members may call out or gesture=20=
however they see fit.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Some of=20=
the catchiest ensemble tunes include the rhythmic <I>Power In Your Praise </=
I>and the upbeat, celebratory pop tune <I>I Thank My God.</I><o:p></o:p></SP=
AN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Special=20=
mentions also go to wonderful tenor Jerome Childers in his aching <I>Be God=20=
For Me </I>and Phillip Myricks as the corrupt Roman Felix in the humorous sh=
ow tune <I>Lubricate. </I>This number begs for a vaudeville-style dance to b=
e added.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><I><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Paul=20=
</SPAN></I><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">=
has a secondary love story between the Roman Julius (Jeffrey Richardson) and=
 the Jewish Joanna (Robin Parker-Mitchell) that is not well-developed. Their=
 duets are also among the least-polished musical numbers.<o:p></o:p></SPAN><=
/P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The show=
 features a seven-piece, onstage band that includes an organ and interesting=
 percussive devices such as a rain stick.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The prod=
ucers, who say <I>Paul </I>has developed a life of its own, plan a four- to=20=
six-week tour next spring throughout the country. They expect the show to ha=
ve crossover appeal with both black and white audiences. Northeast Ohio audi=
ences can say they saw the heartfelt new piece while it was still in its inf=
ancy.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN><SPAN style=3D"FONT=
-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><EM>Theater critic Kerry Claws=
on may be reached at 330-996-3527 or by e-mail at </EM><A href=3D"mailto:kcl=
awson at thebeaconjournal.com"><FONT color=3D#0027b4><EM>kclawson at thebeaconjour=
nal.com</EM></FONT></A><EM>.</EM></SPAN><EM> <o:p></o:p></EM></SPAN></P>
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