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Seven Brides For Seven Brothers
Music by Gene DePaul
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
New songs by Al Kasha & Joel Hirschhorn
Book by Al Kasha
Based on the MGM film and “The Sobbin Women”
by Stephen Vincent Benet
Directed & Choreographed by Kevin Bellie
At Circle Theatre
7300 W. Madison
Forest Park, IL
Call 708-771-0700, tickets $26 with $2 discount for seniors & students
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 20 minutes with intermission
Through December 23, 2007
Heel-kickin,’ rip-roaring musical’s energy is contagious
Circle Theatre, under the leadership of Bob Knuth and Kevin Bellie, once again take a failed Broadway musical (Seven Brides For Seven Brothers lasted only 5 performances on Broadway in 1982) and make it into a cute, enjoyable regional theatre show. Kevin Bellie’s ambitious and challenging movement and choreography is a sight to behold, especially on Circle Theatre’s intimate stage. Bellie has his young, non-Equity cast kickin’ up a storm as their swirls, sashaying and stompin’ to Gene DePaul’s folk/western score gives the musical a manic, fun-filled flavor. This is a fine remount of the hit classic MGM 1954 film choreographed by Michael Kidd. It failed on Broadway in 1982 but is sure succeeds today at Circle Theatre.
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When Adam Pontipee (the talented golden voiced Eric Lindahl) meets the confident, hardworking restaurant cook, Milly (Rachel Quinn), it is love at first site. The setting is 1850 Oregon and Adam needs a wife (and housekeeper). In his whirl-wind courtship and marriage, he fails to tell Milly about his six brothers living with him in his rural Oregon farm. Milly at first hates Adam for not telling her, then she helps the boys develop enough social skills to find their own wives. The result is a fun, high-energy musical featuring loads of up tempo dances. With hints of barn dances, waltzes, and rural hoe-downs, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers unfolds as a spirited dance show. “Goin’ Courting,” where Milly teaches the brothers social manners and some dance steps is cute and “The Social Dance” number is a pure show-stopper.
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When Adam convinces his siblings to kidnap their sweethearts (like the Romans did), Milly defends the ladies and Adam leaves the farm for the hills until spring. The ladies and the brothers eventually court as love blossoms. Everything ends in happiness as the six brothers (with Adam & Milly renewing their marriage vows) allowing for the 14 lovers to participate in the grand finale dance number “The Wedding Dance.” We are toe-tapping throughout this gem.
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers is a light-weight, wholesome family musical long on fine dancing and singing. Eric Lindahl and Rachel Quinn offer fine leading roles while Tony DiPise (Gideon), Mat Labotka (Frank), Jeremy Myers (Ephraim), Adam Pasen (Benjamin), Shawn Quinlan (Caleb) and Nick Woodrow (Daniel) are excellent as the brothers. This is a worthy holiday show that all ages will find entertaining. Kevin Bellie is a marvelous director and an innovative choreographer who needs to get a chance with a major Equity show.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2007
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