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<p style="color:rgb(204,0,0)" class="MsoNormal"><br><b><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></b></p><p style="color:rgb(204,0,0)" class="MsoNormal"><br><b><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"><span style="color:rgb(204,0,0)"></span><br></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"><br>
</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Delightful
THE WORLD GOES ROUND at Porthouse</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black">(Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics
Circle)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">Musical
reviews are a collection of songs which are performed as a single
production.<span style> </span>They usually contain
no story-line, per se, but highlight either a theme such as patriotism (e.g.,
WELCOME HOME:<span style> </span>A PATRIOTIC
MUSICAL), a person (e.g., WILL RODGERS FOLLIES), a body of work by a performer
(e.g., COME FLY WITH ME, the songs of Frank Sinatra), or the writings of a
particular song writer or writing team (e.g., SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:black">THE WORLD
GOES ROUND is one of the latter, an evening of songs conceived by John Kander
(music) and Fred Ebb (lyrics), which were written for their Broadway
shows.<span style> </span>The duo wrote such hits as </span><span style="font-family:Palatino">CHICAGO, CABARET, FUNNY LADY, and KISS OF THE
SPIDER WOMAN.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">For a review to be more
than escapist enjoyment, requires a talented cast who can both sing and dance,
a fine musical director who can develop strong musical arrangements, and a
creative director and choreographer.<span style>
</span>Fortunately, Porthouse has such a team.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The cast for THE WORLD
GOES ROUND, composed entirely of college students, is generally fine.<span style> </span>Lauren Culver, who has an excellent
singing voice, well interprets <i style>And the
World Goes Round</i> and <i style>Maybe This Time</i>.<span style> </span>She, like so many in the cast, sing
meanings, not just words, thus making the songs purposeful, even out of the
context of the script for which they were written.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Lisa Kuhnen makes <i style>Cabaret</i> into a life affirming anthem,
while creating a clear story in <i style>Colored
Lights</i>.<span style> </span>Jennie Nassers <i style>A Quiet Thing </i>and <i style>World Goes Round</i> were well sung.<span style> </span>Jack OBrien showcases a fine voice in <i style>Sometimes a Day Goes By</i> and displays the right amount of pathetic
appeal in <i style>Mr. Cellophane</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Sam Rohloff and Nathan
Mohebbi display excellent dancing skills.<span style>
</span>Anastasia Arnold and Lisa Kuhnen are delightful in <i style>The Grass is Always Greener</i>.<span style> </span>Rohloff, Culver and MacKenzie Duan create a well-blended
and compelling medley of <i style>We Can<span style> </span>Make It</i>,<i style> Maybe This Time, </i>and<i style> Isnt This
Better</i>.<span style> </span>Kyle Kempf showcases a
fine sense of humor and timing in <i style>Sara
Lee</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Other highlights were <i style>Yes</i>, <i style>All
That Jazz</i>, and <i style>Me and My Baby</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Musical director Kevin
Long not only has his orchestra in good tune, but his arrangements are
enveloping.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The star of the show,
however, is not seen on stage.<span style> </span>The
highlight is Sean Morrisseys creative directing and choreography.<span style> </span>Each segment has its own approach.<span style> </span>He doesnt repeat dance moves or
styles.<span style> </span>The staging is casual yet
well honed.<span style> </span>The cast interprets
songs well in form and word meaning.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino">CAPSULE JUDGMENT: Musical reviews tend not to be
my favorite form of theatre.<span style> </span>I
prefer storylines.<span style> </span>But, more
productions like<span style> </span>THE WORLD GOES
ROUND, as directed and choreographed by Sean Morrissey, could make a review
lover out of me.<span style> </span>Go to Porthouse.
Sit back and relax, and let the talented and well directed cast carry you away
on a fine musical trip to Kanter and Ebbs Broadway.</span></i><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:#1a1a1a"></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The show runs until July
21 at Porthouse Theatre, on the grounds of Blossom Music Center.<span style> </span>For tickets call 330-672-3884 or go
online to <a href="http://www.porthousetheatre.com">www.porthousetheatre.com</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">NEXT UP AT
PORTHOUSE:<span style> </span>THE SOUND OF MUSIC,
from July 26 through August 12.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Console";color:#0071ff">Roy
Berko's commentaries and reviews appear on
<a href="http://coolcleveland.com">coolcleveland.com</a>,<a href="http://neohiopal.com">neohiopal.com</a>,<a href="http://artsamerica.com">artsamerica.com</a>,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Console";color:#0071ff">and
<a href="http://broadwaynews.com">broadwaynews.com</a>.<span style> </span>His blog is:
<a href="http://www.royberko.info">www.royberko.info</a></span></p>
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