[NEohioPAL] RAVE BEACON REVIEW for new musical at ACTORS' SUMMIT

Tue Sep 23 07:57:42 PDT 2008

Theater review:

 Charming 'Main-Travelled Roads' is perfect for Actors' Summit 

Size, style of musical a good fit for Hudson theater 

By Kerry Clawson
Beacon Journal staff writer 

POSTED: 01:43 p.m. EDT, Sep 22, 2008 

The sparkling little musical Main-Travelled Roads, being performed
through Oct. 5 by Actors' Summit, has kernels of truth that are
universal to the human experience, no what century you live in. 

The story's portraits of turn-of-the-century life in Wisconsin bring to
life the heartbreaks of love lost due to tragic misunderstanding; the
destructive forces of jealousy and inadequacy; the yearning for ethnic
assimilation; the hopelessness of a crumbled marriage; and worries about
survival during desperate economic times. These themes could just as
well be set in 2008 America. 

The tales are based on the 1891 short stories of Hamlin Garland, who was
born in West Salem, Wisconsin in 1860, seven years before Laura Ingalls
Wilder would be born just a few miles north. Pioneer life in that part
of the country obviously provided hearty literary fodder that still
resonates today. 

It may come as a surprise that the vignettes in Main-Travelled Roads
aren't all light and airy: Each has a strong dose of painful heartache.
That's the very reason why Main-Travelled Roads draws you in. 

Sasha Thackaberry makes a bright directorial debut at Actors' Summit,
assembling a vivacious, talented cast of four. She not only elicits
impeccable dramatic and comedic timing from her cast, her creative hand
can be seen everywhere, from the clothesline that winds its away around
the proscenium for quick, onstage costume changes to her lively
choreography. 

Actors Kathleen Culler and Keith Stevens are especially sweet singing
and dancing to Small Town Telegraph, a tune about gossip. Later, the
machinery-driven Threshing creates a dramatic shift in atmosphere, all
created by the four cast members' movements. 

Main-Travelled Roads is the perfect size and style musical for Actors'
Summit, which did wonders last season with the intimate Quilters, a
beautiful, heartfelt piece about the joys and sorrows of American
pioneer women. 

The Actors' Summit's show marks the regional premiere for this charming
little musical, which was developed at the Chicago Stages Festival of
New Musicals in 2006, played at Madison Repertory Theater last year and
at New York's Barrow St. Theatre this year. 

Culler provides much of the heart of the story as Aggie, who begins as a
young, starry-eyed innocent. One of the most eloquent moments in the
show occurs when Aggie says her one true love ''tore a seared and ragged
path to an innocent, happy heart.'' 

Stephen Brockway creates a vivid characterization as the cruel, brutish
Dave, a hardened man who has been pummeled by life. This excellent
Equity actor demonstrates his range through his other character, Ed, a
lighthearted dandy of a creamery man. 

Stevens delivers the most humor, from his deadpan portrayal of a
disapproving father to his crazy characterization of an obnoxious German
mother. 

Rounding out the cast is C.J. Bonde as the endearing Nina, a German girl
who wears her heart on her sleeve. It's hard to believe this assured
young actress is only a senior in high school. 

Though each of the show's characters comes from different backgrounds,
most experience some form of hardship, loneliness or isolation in these
stories of rural life. 

Thackaberry has created bare-bones staging with a picnic bench
symbolizing everything from a wagon to a piano. This homespun simplicity
enhances audience members' abilities to actively use their imaginations.

Theatergoers can thank Bob and Marty Hills (she's a theater trustee) for
discovering this enriching show during their travels and bringing word
of it back to Actors' Summit co-artistic directors MaryJo Alexander and
Neil Thackaberry, paving the way for its local production.

Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or 
kclawson at thebeaconjournal.com.

Details

Musical: Main-Travelled Roads 

When: Continuing through Oct. 5, 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m.
Sundays 

Where: Actors' Summit, 86 Owen Brown St., Hudson 

Onstage: C.J. Bonde, Stephen Brockway, Kathleen Culler, Keith Stevens 

Offstage: Paul Libman, music; David Hudson, book/lyrics; Sasha
Thackaberry, director/choreographer; Evie Morris, musical director;
Peter Voinovich, assistant director; MaryJo Alexander,
costumes/props/set; Neil Thackaberry, lighting; Constance Thackaberry
and Debra DeRoche, set crew 

Price: $25-$28; senior citizens, $22 Thursdays and Sundays; students, $7
all performances 

Information: 330-342-0800