[NEohioPAL] Berko review: WOODY SEZ @ CPH

[Roy Berko]

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*WOODY [Guthrie] SEZ, a dang good 98th season opening pleaser, at CPH*



Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)



Even before the official start of WOODY SEZ, the cast of four set the
melodic and emotional mood by playing music and interacting with the
audience.



As the music driven WOODY SEZ:  THE LIFE & MUSIC OF WOODY GUTHERIE unfolds,
we are exposed to Guthrie, the man, his life and his music.



>From early on, until his death from complications of Huntington’s disease
in 1967 at age 55, Guthrie acted as a spokesperson for the poor, the
disenfranchised, and the union and non-union members who were taken
advantage of by company stores, big business, acts of nature, and
politicians.  His emotional and purposeful vocals, his twangy guitar,
harmonica, mandolin and fiddle playing, reeked of down home Okie ideals.  They
highlighted his experiences in the Dust Bowl era and Great Depression and
help teach a solid history lesson of the era.



His strong political views earned him the “honor” of being blacklisted,
investigated by the FBI, and censored in his media appearances.



Guthrie’s outspoken nature and obligation to speak out cost him three
marriages and solid relationships with his eight children.  One of his
sons, Arlo, took up his mantle and became a renowned folk musician.



He is credited with inspiring and mentoring a generation of new folk
musicians, including Ramblin Jack Elliott and Bob Dylan.



Guthrie is noted for such songs as “So Long it’s Been Good to Know Yuh,”
“This Train is Bound for Glory,” “Pastures of Plenty,” “The Ballad of Tom
Joad,” and  “Nickel, Nickel.”  He wrote what many consider the country’s
spiritual anthem, “This Land Is Your Land.”



The Cleveland Play House production, under the adept direction of Nick
Corley, who co-devised the script, wraps the audience in music, tales and
morals.   There is an easy, comfortable pace and mood to the two-act, hour
and a half show that is enhanced by the intimacy of the Allen theatre.  This
ability to create closeness highlights yet another reason why the CPH move
to downtown was a wise choice, as the old theatre spaces didn’t offer such
a venue.



The simple set, consisting of a series of shipping cases, serves as places
to store the multitude of guitars, fiddles, harmonicas, autoharp,
Appalachian dulcimer, double bass, mandolin, banjo, pennywhistle, jawharp
and soup spoons, which were played by the performers.  They also served as
places for individual cast members to sit when they were not performing.



David Lutken, who authored the piece, inhabits the personage of Guthrie so
well that it is easy to forget his is not the man himself.  Lutken
obviously knows Guthrie, his music, his mannerisms, and his sense of humor.
He is a multi-talented musician who well creates the thoughts, desires, and
wisdom of the “Dust Bowl Troubadour.”



David Finch, Helen Jean Russell and Leenya Rideout are all outstanding
musicians and performers who well portray many people who affected and
influenced Guthrie’s life and beliefs.  Pleasurably, none of the cast or
their instruments are encumbered by microphones, so there is a natural, not
artificial sound to the music and the singing.



*CAPSULE JUDGMENT:  If your definition of a musical is an orchestra in the
pit, dancing, and a plot in which the songs perfectly fit into the story
line, WOODY SEZ: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF WOODY GUTHRIE isn’t for you.  If,
however, you get off on learning about a real person, and sharing his music
and philosophy, presented by an engaging note-perfect cast, this is the
show for you.  CPH has opened its 98th season with a sure audience pleaser!*



WOODY SEZ runs through October 6, 2013 at the Allen Theatre in
PlayhouseSquare.  For tickets call 216-241-6000 or go to
http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com.


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