[NEohioPAL]Berko review: 7 BRIDES FOR 7 BROTHERS

[Roy Berko]

PLEASANT BUT UNINSPIRED 7 BRIDES @ Carousel

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

Name your favorite musical film.   If you are fairly
typical your list probably included ‘MY FAIR LADY,’
‘SOUND OF MUSIC,’ ‘WEST SIDE STORY’ and ‘CHICAGO.’ 
But, did you select  ‘SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN
BROTHERS’?   You might be surprised that in recent
favorite movie musical polls, Seven Brides came in
third on one list and eighth in another.   It was the
only musical on those lists which was developed as a
film and not transferred from the Broadway stage.  It
definitely makes my top five list.

In 1954 the film, loosely based on Steven Vincent
Benet’s short story “The Sobbin’ Women,’ opened.  The
flick, which starred Howard Keel, Russ Tamblyn, Jane
Powell and Julie Newmar was the sleeper hit of the
year and has developed a cult following.  Much of the
popularity was due to the amazing choreography by
Michael Kidd which took such mundane pursuits as
chopping wood and raising a barn and made them into
spectacular and enthralling visualizations.

In 1979, Jane Powell and Howard Keel reprised their
film roles in an off-Broadway stage production, and in
1982 a full-blown Broadway musical opened to moderate
success.  It is the staged version which is now at
Carousel Dinner Theatre. 

The story is about Adam, a backwoodsman and Milly, who
marries him after knowing Adam for only a few hours. 
Upon arriving at his cabin in the mountains, Milly is
surprised to learn that Adam is one of seven brothers
who inhabit the cabin.  After a rocky start, the
relationship flourishes and Milly teaches the younger
brothers manners including how to dance. They are able
to test their new “selves” at a barn-raising, where
they meet six girls they like. The girls, of course,
like the brothers, but due to a fight, the brothers
are banned from town and the relationships don’t
flourish.

Winter arrives, and the six younger brothers mope for
their girls. Adam inspires his brothers to kidnap
their lady loves.  The girls, of course are upset  and
Milly is furious. She bans the brothers to the barn
while the girls live in the house. Adam, who is also
furious, leaves to live out the winter by himself. 
And, of course, since this is a traditional musical
comedy, the brothers and the girls, and Adam and Milly
find ways to work out their problems, and they live
happily ever after.

Okay, so this isn’t a great story line, but it is fun.
 Well, it  can be fun.  For the material to work, it
must be done with abandonment and enthusiasm.   It
must a hoot from beginning to end.  It has to be
bigger than life.

Unfortunately, the Carousel show, under the
emotionally controlled direction and uncreative
choreography of Chet Walker, is “nice” not “dynamic.” 
The cast spent lots of time in straight rows, stepping
forward to sing their solos or speak their lines. 
This is just out and out bad staging.   The
choreography was repetitious, not always fitting the
moods of the music.

Part of the problem may also be due to a limited
rehearsal time that the cast had to prepare.  Seven
days does not make for developing the type of dance
coordination and complete comfort with the material
that a dance show like this needs.  Add to that the
necessity for seven superb male and female dancers and
the task is daunting.

The show’s sprightly and often tender music is by Gene
dePaul with creative lyrics by Johnny Mercer.  Songs
include, “One Man,” “Goin’ Courting,” “”Sobbin’
Women,” and “Wonderful, Wonderful Day.”  Like the
dancing, some of the song interpretations were missing
the necessary texturing and proper mood.

Jennifer Byrne (Millie) is pretty, has a nice singing
voice, but was much too sophisticated for the role. 
Randy Bobish (Adam) has George Clooney good looks and
a nice voice.  But, he failed to texture his
performance so he came off as being unreal.  

Curtiss Howard III was delightful as the youngest
brother.  Kyle DesChamps (Daniel) showed some great
dancing skills.

Robert Kovach’s sets worked well.  Dale DiBernardo’s
costumes designs were era correct, but in a discussion
following the opening night’s production several of
the male dancers complained that the high-waisted
pants made for difficulty in easy movement.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   To be successful, a production of
‘SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS’ requires
extraordinary dancing, and the development of a love
story that charms the viewer with warmth and wit.  The
production needs to be an imaginative romp.   The
Carousel show just doesn’t reach those levels.  It’s
not bad, it’s just not wonderful.  

For tickets  call 800-362-4100.  Show times are
Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Friday
and Saturday evenings at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday evenings
at 5 and Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2 P.M. 
Matinees are on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.  Dinner
is served two hours prior to curtain.  Ticket prices
range from $41 to $49  for the show with dinner and
28.50-$36.50 for the show alone


Roy Berko's web page can be found at www.royberko.info.  His theatre and dance reviews appear on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.

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