<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><br><div dir="ltr"><h2><span>Tuesday, February 3, 2015</span></h2>
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<h3><a href="http://raveandpan.blogspot.com/2015/02/violet-lakeland-civic-theatre.html" target="_blank">Violet,
Lakeland Civic Theatre</a> </h3>
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<div style="text-align:center;clear:both"><a style="margin-right:1em;margin-left:1em" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9neLn-1L_cA/VNDdWa-gm9I/AAAAAAAABF0/SBcF8f4s68M/s1600/HD0A6776.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9neLn-1L_cA/VNDdWa-gm9I/AAAAAAAABF0/SBcF8f4s68M/s1600/HD0A6776.jpg" border="0" height="301" width="320"></a></div>(Neely Gevaart as Violet and Eugene Sumlin as
Flick)<br>
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<div class="MsoNormal">There are two kinds of people in the world: Those who
believe there are two kinds of people in the world and those who allow for a bit
more diversity. Well, both kinds should go and see <i>Violet</i>, the Jeanine Tesori musical, with
book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, now at the Lakeland Civic
Theatre.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">As one of Crawley’s lyrics posits, “There are two kinds of
people in the world/Some say yes and some say no.” And this show works at
sorting them out after beginning with a horrific accident. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Thirteen-year-old Violet is walking through her backwoods
yard in North Carolina when her dad’s axe head flies off the handle in mid-swing
and slices a jagged scar across her face. Even though the accident is all mimed
and the scar is never physically visible, it is omnipresent as Violet struggles
to accept herself and others.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Composers and lyricists continue to defy logic and write
musicals about the strangest and, on the surface, most unpleasant topics. And
this one may top the list, at least until someone writes a singin’ and dancin’
epic about irritable bowel syndrome.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">In any case Violet, now all grown up and on her own in
1964, is understandably obsessed with her appearance. So she is on a pilgrimage
to see a televangelist faith healer in Oklahoma to make everything cosmetically
(not to mention psychologically and spiritually) right. This journey rings
absolutely true even though it may seem fanciful to some. In fact, I knew a
fiercely intelligent woman, beset with multiple sclerosis, who went to see a
“healing” preacher in Akron. Even her well-honed, skeptical mind was won over by
the apparition of hope.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">So is Violet’s, and as she travels she encounters two
soldiers on the bus who each are attracted to her in somewhat different ways.
Monty is a good ol’ boy who just wants to get in Violet’s pants while Flick, an
African-American, seems to bond with her on a deeper level.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">The story is fascinating and the music is lush and varied,
combining gospel, country and blues into a beguiling quilt that is stitched
together much more delicately than Violet’s face. Director Martin Friedman and
musical director Jordan Cooper bring out the best in this talented
cast.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">As Violet, Neely Gevaart is absolutely wonderful, belting
out the songs that need it and then tenderly handling a quiet piece, such as
when she croons to Monty as they lie in bed in “Lay Down Your Head.” Gevaart
looks and feels the part, providing enough edge to her role so that the
disfiguring accident doesn’t come across as just a handy framing
device.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Eric Fancher makes Monty a character who is more than just
a lug who wants to get some, and Eugene Sumlin displays honesty and compassion
as Finch, even though his singing voice isn’t as powerful as some others. In
featured roles, Nicole Sumlin employs her rafter-shaking pipes to great effect
in “Raise Me Up” and as the preacher, Robert Pierce is a pompous pompadour until
he, also, shows a different and interesting facet.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Indeed, the characters and the music in <i>Violet </i>are both complex and believable,
creating a seamless work that is fully satisfying. As Violet and Finch grow
closer, two people being judged by their outward appearance, the play concludes
by saying “Yes” to a happy ending that feels fully earned.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Violet</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Through February 15 at Lakeland Civic Theatre,
<a href="tel:440-525-7034" value="+14405257034" target="_blank">440-525-7034</a></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Lakeland Community College Campus, just south of Rt. 90
and Rt. 306 in Kirtland.</b></div><br></div></div></div></div></div>
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