From a flamboyant Mardi Gras version of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” to a clean and classic interpretation of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” summer musicals are starting to bloom.
To maintain its reputation for colorful, high-energy musicals, Thingamajig Theatre of Pagosa Springs has opened its four-production summer season with a splashy interpretation of “Mermaid.” Ryan Hazelbaker’s direction and Jason Falmos’ lighting amp up a consistently over-the-top rendering that’s somehow all of a glittery piece.
Rafael Colón Catanera’s spectacular costumes, wisely appropriated from Arkansas Rep, create a Las Vegas sheen that is all but blinding. Laura Moore’s cartoonish, curlicue set matches the high-sugar content.
Like more and more companies these days, Thingamajig uses a recorded soundtrack to accompany an able cast. Audrey Layne Crocker delivers a winning Ariel, the dreamy and unhappy teenage daughter of undersea King Triton (a swimmingly magnetic Taylor Marrs). Desperate to become a human and marry Prince Eric (the clean-cut powerhouse tenor Luke Hefner). Ariel makes a Faustian bargain with the villainess Ursula (a vengeful Ethel Merman as sung by Helen Regula). The little mermaid eventually wins her legs, her man and life ever after as a palace princess. It’s the Disney drill.
The 2007 musical followed the 1989 movie. The Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale on which all this hullabaloo is based is entirely different. It’s dark and unforgiving – worth the short read. But Disney Studios have engineered many makeovers, and Pagosa has layered in a little camp to make this edition entertaining in its own right – especially for adults.
The Durango Arts Center’s staging of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” is clean, direct and punctuated with the wise humor of the late, great Charles M. Schulz. Anyone who has loved “Peanuts,” his comic strip of some 50 years, will resonate to the Schulz world view.
Like “Mermaid,” “Charlie Brown” is a musical based on a text. It opened Off Broadway in 1967 with music by Clark Gesner. Over the years, additional dialogue has been added by Michael Mayer with new music and lyrics by Andrea Lippa.
A vaudeville structure moves quickly, alternating spoken dialogue with songs. At DAC, it’s all delivered by a confident six-member cast of Schulz characters.
Matthew Dranzik plays up Charlie’s quizzical nature, showing us the winsome side of childhood logic. In contrast, Alyse M. Neubert dispenses Lucy’s smarty-pants energy with brio. Matthew Socci brings anxiety and charm to Lucy’s little brother Linus. Lanky Jonathan Patton is an outsize Schroeder in many ways. He’s got a shimmering tenor voice and yet manages to fit his tall frame to his tiny white piano. Lauren Berkman sends up Charlie’s sister Sally with terrific dancing and a sparkling restlessness. Cierra Taylor magically balances Snoopy’s lassitude, wisdom and endearing imagination. Snoopy’s celebratory “Suppertime” starts out simply and eventually involves the entire cast in a rousing ensemble number. My favorite.
DAC’s cast is ably supported by a jazz trio. Opening weekend I heard pianist Paula Millar, percussionist Katrina Hedrick and bassist Evan Suiter. The score calls for a multitude of musical styles plus straight-up Beethoven for Schroeder. It’s a pleasure to hear a well-prepared band support this charming cast in this unusual musical. #
Directed by Ginny Davis, “Charlie Brown” plays on a beautifully simple set designed by Eric Bulrice, who also designed the sound. Costumer Jane Gould stays true to her character’s colors right down to the socks, and lighting designer John Mark Zink is back in town between Broadway touring shows to give the whole spit and polish.
Judith Reynolds is an arts journalist and member of the American Theater Critics Association.
If you go
“Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glen Slater, Book by Doug Wright, based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, Thingamajig Theatre Company, directed by Ryan Hazelbaker, featuring Audrey Layne Crocker, in repertory with three other musicals through Au. 28; Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, Tickets: $15, $35, $40. For more information: www.pagosacenter.org or (970) 731-SHOW (7469).
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” a musical comedy based on Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip “Peanuts.” Music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, directed by Ginny Davis. 7:30 p.m. July 14-16, 21-23, 29-30 and a 2 p.m. matinee July 31, Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., Tickets: $18 DAC Members, $20 general, $15 ages 15 and under.
For more information: 259-2606 or www.durangoarts.com.
