By Alayna Een
Anyone who was at the Midvale Main Street Theatre in Midvale, Utah, on the opening night of Daddy Long Legs knows that “the secret of happiness” just might be seeing a perfectly charming, intimate musical in a perfectly charming, intimate venue. The rich history of the Midvale Main Street Theatre goes back into the 1920s, almost as far back as the setting of the play.
Jerusha Abbot is the oldest orphan in the John Greer home, and her life of mundanity is lightened only by her insatiable imagination—until a rich stranger, inspired by her creative essays and budding writing talent, decides to sponsor her education and send her to college. However, his generosity comes with certain stipulations: his identity must remain anonymous (even to her), and Jerusha must write him a letter monthly (with the understanding that he will never respond). Undeterred, Jerusha, who saw only a shadow of her mysterious benefactor, christens him “Daddy Long Legs” and enthusiastically begins the correspondence. Her initial assumptions that her “Daddy Long Legs” is an affluent octogenarian couldn’t be farther from the truth, and the young benefactor, Jervis Pendleton, finds himself instantly charmed. Jervis decides to introduce himself to her discreetly as the relative of a friend, and soon finds himself caught in a web of mixed identities.
What makes this play so incredibly unique is that almost the entire dialogue comes from Jerusha’s letters, and the two characters interact with each other as they either write or read the letters’ contents. It takes talented actors to keep the audience enthralled in the story when it is staged and portrayed so simply, but Brynnly Bosworth (Jerusha) and Alex DeBirk (Jervis) are up to the task.
DeBirk is a perfect Jervis Pendleton, latching onto the incredible nuances of the character. DeBirk brings life to the contradictions of someone who is both funny and pensive, both spontaneous and wary, and he does this with perfect consistency. His portrayal feels absolutely right and very relatable. One moment he is racked with guilt about his deception and determined to tell the truth, and in the next his foolhardy attempts to micromanage go hilariously awry. DeBirk masterfully maintains a consistency of character through the entire range of emotions Jervis experiences.
Bosworth brings an incredible sweetness to the role of Jerusha Abbot and perfectly captures her unconquerable spirit. She portrays Jerusha’s genuine innocence and gratitude at the beginning of the play and handles the emotional transitions in the later end with poise and poignancy.
Boswrth and DeBirk share the stage well, and I was constantly impressed by their focus. Sometimes the best part of the scene was watching DeBirk’s silent, frustrated, or pleased reaction to Bosworth’s lines. Even when he went a long time without having a line, DeBirk was still very much in character.
Both Bosworth and DeBirk rose to the challenging reality of continued singing and ceaseless performance. DeBirk’s warm and rich vibrato voice never seemed to falter, and Bosworth maintained her loveliness all throughout.
Tammy Ross and Kristina Rene Stone no doubt deserve thanks for their vision and direction in the creation of such a performance. The music, directed by Jason Campbell and performed by Brenda Ahlemann, Justin Bills, and Tyler McCaffree, is simple and unassuming, providing support for the actors without overshadowing or upstaging them.
Cassidy Ross does a wonderful job with the sound design, creating a seamless balance between dialogue and music. Jerrod Dew and Josh Wood create a set with a desk, a bookshelf, a couple of boxes, and some luggage, which somehow seems to perfectly fill the need of each scene. Kathy Romney, Costume Designer, outfitted the leads in clothing that both enhanced the look of the play and helped tell the story in its own subtle way—from the curl of the hair to the perfect, side-buttoning heeled boots.
This performance was made even richer by the history of the venue, which was built in the 1920s and has held everything from silver screens to comedians, until it became the theatre it is now. The old-style ticket booth and concessions stand, the little stained-glass windows, and the gorgeous interior mixing mirrors with murals all contribute to the charm of this versatile venue. Created to fill the need for expression and artistic participation, the Midvale Main Street Theatre is community theatre at its finest: intimate, wholesome, and welcoming.
Daddy Long Legs is a family-friendly musical that anyone can enjoy! What it may lack in big, colorful ensemble numbers, it makes up for in heart and charm. It’s a musical that has quickly become one of my favorites, and Midvale Main Street Theatre’s performance will be one to remember. So forget your arachnophobia and come on down to Midvale, Utah, because this is a performance you should be afraid to miss!
Midvale Mainstreet Theatre presents Daddy Long Legs Book by John Caird, Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon.
771 S. Main Street, Midvale, Ut, 84047
September 26–October 5, 2019, 7:30 PM
Tickets: $12 for children, $15 for adults.
Midvale Mainstreet Theatre Official Website
Contact: Midvaletheatre@gmail.com
Midvale Mainstreet Theatre Facebook Page
Daddy Long Legs Facebook Event
0 Comments