By Luna Lillywhite
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers takes the stage at St. George Musical Theater and it is a knee slappin’ triumph. This family-friendly musical will delight you with its fun story, written by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay, its upbeat music by Gene De Paul, Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, lyrics by Kasha, Hirschorn and Johnny Mercer. This musical is also an adaptation of the popular MGM 1954 Stanley Donen film of the same name. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was nominated for a Tony Award in 1983 for the Best Original Score. This story takes place in The Pacific Northwest in the 1850’s, in what was at that time a rough and ready town in Oregon.
The production, directed by Kelly Olsen and under the musical direction of Kris Barber, follows Adam Pontipee (Tyson Chanticleer/Jared Davis), a back woodsman looking for an instant wife to take care of his household and help raise his six brothers. He meets Millie McFadden (Emilie Laudie/Rachael Cox), a waitress at the town restaurant who had lost her parents back at the Oregon Trail. Having no ties to family, Adam sees the opportunity to charm Millie into marrying him without informing her of his turbulent bunch back home at his cabin. She soon realizes that she was tricked after meeting his wiley brood of six brothers Benjamin (Aaron Meadows), Caleb (Carter Leonard), Daniel (Benjamin Sullivan), Ephraim (Jefferson Beatty), Frank(Jaxon Keeler) and Gideon (Justin Gibbs), all of them seem to lack manners and order. Millie learns to grow to love Adam and his brothers. She teaches them all how to dance and they all attend a social in town where they meet six beautiful ladies: Ruth (Chastalynn Chamberlain), Liza (Kimball Wastlund Sullivan), Martha (Lesil Swift), Dorcas (Samantha Cummings), Sarah (Rebecca Gent) and Alice (Brynlee Lott with Hannah Olsen as understudy) they immediately take a liking to. There are conflicts as the town suitors interested in the young ladies get jealous and a fight breaks out, choreographed dynamically by Chanticleer. This story follows the pursuit of the kidnapping of the ladies to marry the brothers, the reasons why they choose to stay, and the emotional journey all 12 people take over the course of the winter and spring.
The true appeal of this SGMT production is the obvious talent and energy emitting from the cast. Chanticleer’s performance as the handsome and precarious backwoodsman is certainly engaging as his character evolves leaving a deep adoration and appreciation of the character. His powerful vocals resonate with songs such as “Bless Yore Beautiful Hide” and “Sobbin Women”. His performance is amazingly charismatic as Adam and it is a privilege to see him on stage again. Jared Davis as the portrayal of Adam Pontipee gives an air of comedic relief; however, his vocals are robust as ever. Laudie’s performance as Millie is both elegant and graceful as she works her womanly magic around the brothers singing “Goin Co’tin”. She performs with a voice that is purely delightful as she serenades the townspeople with “Wonderful Day”. Cox as Milly is powerful and sophisticated. She is a force to be reckoned with and proves this to her newfound family when she fiercely sings, “I Married Seven Brothers”. Distinguished and poised, Cox awes the audience with the ballad “Love Never Goes Away” that she sings in trio with Davis and Justin Gibbs who is cast as the youngest brother Gideon. Just as likely a star, Gibbs as is adorable and playful as he performs “Loves Never Goes Away” without disappointment. His comedic timing is perfect and shows much promise this and future productions.
The powerful choreography of Erica Bryce and Troy Mcgee willcertainly have you wanting to get up out of your seat to join in. These performers are spot on with their singing, dancing, fighting, and of course, acting skills. The whole cast is truly on a professional caliber. Barber’s music direction will once again have you singing the delightful tunes for hours after the performance. Costumer Gwendolyn Dattage made perfect choices for the cast’s costumes. Olsen has done another stupendous job in allowing the actors develop deep into their character roles. The interactions between the whole cast is encompassing as they grow with each other over time.. They are all strangers at first and genuinely a family in the end.
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SGMT’s production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers fulfills every expectation. The fights with the brothers and suitors, the chases with the townsfolk and the brides, the dancing, singing, roughhousing, humor, and romance has every patron wanting to see it again. Come see this amazing production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers for a rompin’, stompin’, toe tappin’, heart beatin’, romantically good story telling show. But hurry! Every performance has sold out thus far.
St. George Musical Theater presents Seven Brides for Seven
Brothers, book by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay, music
by Gene De Paul, Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, lyrics by Lawrence Kasha, Joel Hirschorn
and Johnny Mercer.
St. George Musical Theater, 212 N Main Street, St. George,
Utah 84770
January 23 – February 7:30 PM Monday,
Thursday-Saturday. Saturday Matinees 2:00 PM
Tickets: $19 – $23
Contact: 435-628-8755, 1-866-710-8942
St. George Musical Theater Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/sgmusicaltheater/
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