Dynamic choreography, rousing leading lady save flawed musical
Drury Lane Oakbrook presents |
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers |
Book by Gene del Paul, Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn Music/Lyrics by Gene del Paul, Al Kasha, Joel Hirschhorn and Johnny Mercer Directed by Bill Jenkins Musical Direction by Roberta Duchak at Drury Lane Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace (map) through December 19 | tickets: $31-$45 | more info |
Reviewed by Oliver Sava
In the 1954 movie musical “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”, when men kidnap women and trick them into marriage, it’s not Stockholm syndrome, it’s love. “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” is one of those movie musicals that is a product of its time, when women were looked at as little more than glorified housekeepers and baby makers, born to do the will of their man. When Adam Pontipee (Steve Blanchard) deceives the sassy Milly (Abby Mueller) into marrying him, his six brothers set out to capture wives for themselves, ambushing six town girls and throwing them in the back of their wagon. It’s offensive, but the music is jovial and melodic, the dancing is energetic and plentiful, and the film’s leading man Howard Keel’s booming voice and charming smile make it difficult to despise the chauvinistic Adam.
My problems with the stage adaptation of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers arise from its attempts to flesh out the characters, which sounds like a good thing but ends up backfiring by making them even shallower. The solos do very little to make you sympathize with the characters, with Milly’s “One Man” beginning as a condemnation of her husband’s trickery before devolving into a tribute to female subservience. Conversely, Adam’s big Act Two moment of redemption “Where Were You?” attempts to justify his sexism by giving him a daddy complex, blaming his actions on his absent father instead of taking responsibility himself. It’s not difficult to assume that Adam’s behavior is a product of his environment, but when it is put into song it just makes the already unlikable character seem pathetic. Blanchard’s vocals don’t help matters, lacking the timbre and strength expected from an 1850 frontiersman. And while the added ensemble numbers manage to evoke the musical style of the film, the solos and smaller group sequences have a contemporary feel that is out of place with the rest of the show’s classic musical theater sound.
The highlight of the production is easily Milly and her relationship with her six brothers-in-law. Mueller’s crystal clear tone and powerful belt make her musical numbers stand out, and she has great chemistry with her new relatives as she assumes a dominating mother position in the household. Watching the brothers transform under Milly’s feminine influence is a joy, from learning to dance in “Goin’ Courtin’” to finally appreciating their women in the heartfelt “Glad That You Were Born.” With the brothers, there is evidence of a struggle between the uncivilized way they’ve been brought up and the restraint that makes for successful courting. “We Gotta Make It Through The Winter” is a hilarious exclamation of horny frustration, but it is followed by Daniel (William Travis-Taylor) and Frank (Brandon Springman) ruminating on the somber effects of loneliness in the beautiful “Lonesome Polecat.”
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The brothers learning to dance comes in handy for Tammy Mader’s intense, dynamic choreography. Maybe the reason Adam and Milly’s romance never blossoms on stage is because they don’t have a nice dance together like the brothers and their brides. There isn’t much depth to these characters and their affection for each other, but the substance appears in their dancing, when the chemistry really ignites. The extended town dance sequence in Act I is a mesmerizing affair, albeit a little chaotic and unclear at times, while an Act II all-bride dream ballet brings some sensuality to the affair.
Like the film, this production is propelled by its dancing, but bodies in movement can’t overcome all the flaws of the writing. The changes to the film give the story a more modern context, and the attempt to psychoanalyze the characters through song removes much of the musical’s charm. Drury Lane’s Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a polished, well-performed production, but the questionable source material prevents it from rising to true greatness.
Rating: ★★½ |
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Movie Musical, Oliver Sava | Tagged: Abby Mueller, Abigail DeSantis, Al Karsha, Amanda Kroiss, Amber Mak, Andrea Prestinario, Art Lisner, Ben Johnson, Bill Jenkins, Brandon Springman, Cara Salerno, Carey Deadman, Chicago theater review, Chris Yonan, Dan Collins, Don Forston, Drew DeSantis, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Erika Senase, Gene del Paul, Hallie Cercone, Jackson Evans, Jarret Ditch, Jason Van lente, Jesse Klug, Joel Hirschhorn, joel Lambie, John Kornegay, John Tovar, Johnny Mercer, Joyee Lin, Juli Walker, Kaity Licina, Karl Hamilton, Kathryn Rohe, Katie Huff, Kevin Depinet, Kristy Luehm Hronick, Kyle DeSantis, Kyle Donahue, Loren Connell, Matthew Crowle, Michele Lekas, Oliver Sava, Ray Nardelli, Renee Matthews, Rich Trelease, Richard Strimer, Roberta Duchak, Sean Michael Hunt, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Steve Blanchard, Tammy Mader, Thomas Joyce, Tom Logan, Tommy Bullington, Vanessa Panerosa, Wesley Dean Tucker, William Osetek, William Travis Taylor, Zach Zube | Leave a comment »