|
The Cradle Will Rock
Book, Music & Lyrics by Marc Blitzstein
Directed by Craig Joseph
Music Direction by Ryan Brewster
Produced by White Horse Theatre Company
At Viaduct Theatre
3111 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 877-238-5596, tickets $20
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM
Sundays at 3 PM
Running time is 85 minutes with no intermission
Through March 25, 2006
The Cradle Will Rock is a snappy, smart political musical parody
The 1937 musical, commissioned by the US government and directed by Orson Welles, The Cradle Will Rock was so radical, so left-wing and so inflammatory that it was shut down by the government. Welles led a protest march with his cast down NYC streets to an alternate theatre where it was performed in the aisles of a dark theatre with Marc Blitzstein accompanying on an upright piano. The show had a later 100+ run on Broadway in 1938-39.
The Cradle Will Rock is an operatic, Weill-Brechtian style score with razor-sharp lyrics that satirizes conventional musical comedy, its forms and styles utilizing an operetta motif similar to Gilbert & Sullivan and classic vaudeville. Filled with singing dialogue, free-form style songs, a stirring ballad and a haunting anthem and cute dance numbers, Blitzstein’s musical is a deceptively complex work that overwhelms most theatre companies. I’m happy to report that White Horse Theatre got it right.
Director Craig Joseph has deftly staged and choreographed The Cradle Will Rock to exude all the satire, all the parody and all the biting hypocrisy contained. Joseph presents Blitzstein’s caricatures as the greedy industrialist, the corrupt preacher, newspaper editor and police as well as the naive small business owner, college president with the idealized common man laborer as hero. Add the leeching artists, spoiled rich kids and a strong-willed prostitute and Blitzstein has enough character types to people his ‘Steeltown.’
This brisk, quick-paced 85 minute musical is a rare treat. It sings terrifically, contains a rich variety of musical styles full of droll parody. It breezes throughout as it is cleverly staged with cute ensemble movements, fine dances and excellent voices.
Director Joseph has his cast playing multiple roles in a terrific energetic ramp featuring a youthful cast of triple-threat performers. Dana Tretta, as Moll, lands her numbers powerfully while Jeremy Trager is terrific as the preacher and the Polish immigrant and Ed Rutherford is funny as he sells his numbers with aplomb. His infectious talent emerges here. John Watts, Melissa Young and Patricia Corcoran offer cute performances. Geoffrey Plitt is commanding as the dedicated laborer determined to organize the workers and defy Mr. Mister (G. William Zorn).
I especially enjoyed the vaudevillian styles numbers “The Rich,” “Ask Us Again” and “Art For Art’s Sake” that featured outstanding comic song and dance routines from Graham Kostic and Marc Freidman, each of whom landed these parodies deliciously.
The Cradle Will Rock, while a dated left-wing political statement, is also a satire of the human frailty that leads some to sell out for money, power, prestige or a stint on a reality TV show.
White Horse Theatre Company is emerging as a potent producer of musicals. This production showcases their vision as they nailed this vintage musical magnificently. You’d be hard pressed to find a finer value than a $20 ticket to The Cradle Will Rock. Fans of musicals need to see this show.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago Podcast
Date Reviewed February 17, 2006
|
