Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Candlelight Dinner Playhouse
Johnstown, CO
July 23 - September 13, 2015

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is one of Disney's less memorable films. Most have heard of it, but not many have actually seen it. So it's no surprise that most of the children at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse were experiencing the story for the first time. For those who are familiar with it, it is a very silly and dated movie. The cast and crew have given the musical based on the film a much needed makeover.

The story has more villains than heroes. At the top are the Baron and Baroness who are selfish and greedy. By portraying them as overgrown children it's fun to root against them. The same can be said for their bumbling spies, Boris and Goran. The actors strike the perfect balance of silly and don't put it into the level of 1960's camp. The character with the most scare potential was the Childcatcher. Having him enter through he audience had the potential to freak out kids in the audience. However, enough humor was injected into his song "Kiddy Widdy Winkies" to put the audience at ease.

The focus of the show is inventor Caractacus Potts, his children Jemima and Jeremy, and candy heiress Truly Scrumptious. The actors portray their characters as quirky and warm. The child actors were very strong, not weighing down the show at all. Even the ridiculous name of the heroine is handled in such a way you are willing to accept it.

The multi-functional backdrop of the set blended beautifully with the pieces which were moved in and out to change to the many locations. Scene changes were efficient and smooth.

But the real star of the show is the car. It was impressive enough when it rolled out on the stage and it's driving motion was believable. The movement of the tires when it was floating was a nice touch. When the car was flying you could see the wires, but the effect was so impressive it really didn't matter. The car moved from side to side and even tilted in the air, giving it the feeling of forward motion.

Despite its age, the Sherman Brothers' songs still sparkle. And each one was performed beautifully. The musicians even interacted with the cast on occasion. Those moments made them feel more connected to the production.

The choreography was perfectly arranged. From simple movements to elaborate production numbers, the dancing blended with each scene and character.

As I have grown to expect, the service at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse was friendly. The food was good and English themed to pair with the show. Most meals came with "bubble and squeak," that is mashed potatoes with brussel sprouts to Americans. The cast were available for meet and greet after the performance and happily posed for pictures and signed autographs.

The Legend of Robin Hood

The Legend of Robin Hood
PACE Center
Parker, CO
August 7 - 22, 2015

The iconic story of Robin Hood, surprisingly, does not have a definitive telling. Each version focuses on a few of the vast collection of tales associated with the characters, so when seeing a new versions you never know what you will be getting.

The script itself seems to have a struggle with identity. At times it's a screwball comedy, not taking itself seriously. At other times it wants to be a realistic version of the story. The transitions are clunky.

My biggest disappointment was that at the start of the story songs are already being sung to Robin Hood and his Merry Men are already assembled. The only piece not in place is Maid Marian - and even that is cloudy. The script is unclear if Marina is a woman Robin has dreamed of or if they had a prior relationship.

The script borrows heavily from the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves and it relies on the audience to have a basic knowledge of the story. The production attempts to focus on the "legend" and not the man. The opening song and last 15 minutes of Act 2 frame this theme. However, the rest of the show doesn't carry it through, which is disappointing. It would set this telling apart from the many others.

The program we received did not contain a list of scenes or songs. In an unfamiliar show this is a real drawback. Due to this, I won't be able to reference any songs by name. The songs are for the most part not memorable and the lack of title makes them even less so. The songs sung at the finale of each act were nicely done - rich with harmonies and meaning. But the songs around them did little to advance the story.

The sets were well thought out, if a bit simple. While some scene changes were lengthy, the transformations were effective. The costumes were a high point. I appreciated that Maid Marian changed clothes often - as a noble woman would have.

The strongest performance was given by the Sheriff of Nottingham. His combination of greed and madness set up the "legend" theme. Without a believable obsession with Robin Hood, the finale would have fallen flat.

Robin Hood was a bit bland. Had the "legend" theme been stronger, that portrayal might have worked. Instead he came off as dull. Marina was a bit more fleshed out, but she is way too strong a fighter to believe she is noble.

The Merry Men were a good combination of camp and realism. They were all well cast and their performances were strong. However, it did seem strange that there were only four of them.

It's unlikely this will become the version of the Robin Hood people remember, but there are some special elements this company added to the vast array of tales.

La Traviata

La Traviata
Central City Opera
Central City, CO
July 11 - August 9, 2015

I should begin by saying that I attended the Central City Opera’s production of La Traviata as part of the Take a Child to the Opera event.  It was a well-planned day of activities cultivating the children’s interest in opera and theater, but also featured history lessons about Central City. The added activities also included a craft table and time set aside to watch the ushers sing their famous song before opening the theater for seating. It was a fun day without being overwhelming and it made the long drive from the Denver area seem more worthwhile.

Since this was a special family-friendly production, we did not see the actors who have been playing the roles throughout the festival. These were the young artists. However, the sets and costumes from the regular production were used. The opera was sung in the original Italian with the translation on a small screen on the proscenium. That helped everyone keep up with the story.

The transition to the young artists wasn’t entirely smooth. Alfredo’s voice was not as clear and strong as we are used to in a leading man and Georges was clearly too young for the part he was playing. But their parts were well-acted and enjoyable. The chorus was strong and polished. By far, the brightest light was on their Violetta who performed the role flawlessly. She took control of the music and her presence was felt in every scene.

The production of La Traviata as a whole left little to be desired. The transformation for scene to scene was complete and the few furniture pieces were enough to indicate the surroundings. The transformation of the party scene in Act 2, scene 2 from a festive party to a somber almost funerary feel was stunning, setting the scene for the tragic end. And the bright light that engulfed Violetta at the end put the scene into focus and added a starkness to her death.

After the opera, the young artists arrived in the courtyard for meet and greets with the children. The event put a friendly end on the day’s activities. Central City Opera offers the Take A Child event every year and I am already looking forward to next summer!