By Keolanani Kinghorn
Now at CenterPoint Legacy Theatre, you can see Bright Star, a beautifully written musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell and directed by Maurie Tarbox. Bright Star tells the story of Alice Murphy (Anya Wilson/Becca Burdick) growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. We see Alice first as a young, carefree woman and the connection between her and an idealistic young man named Billy (Jordan Strong/Jared Haddock) unfold. Both Alice and Billy find their family somewhat overbearing, Alice’s father Daddy Murphy (Chuck Gilmore/Brent Sloan) and Billy’s father Daddy Cane (Brett Klumpp/Chad Wilkinson) being the controlling fathers. At times, Alice and Billy seek refuge in each other’s company. The storyline constantly switches back and forth between two timelines: young Alice in the 1920s and middle-aged Alice, a well-to-do magazine editor 22 years later, in the 1940s with her staff members Lucy (Kat Tietjen/Natalie Haddock) and Daryl (Jared Daley/Ryan Zaugg). In the later timeline, Alice is introduced to Billy Cane (Drew Dunshee/Alex Young), a young aspiring writer who has just returned from serving in WW2. We follow Jimmy Ray to his hometown and meet his father Mayor Dobbs, (Mathew T. Hewitt/John Philpott) and Billy’s love interest—Margo (Olympia Pead/ Abigail Ford).
Bright Star is a unique musical that incorporates a rich Bluegrass score with realistic themes from post WW2 America that are still very much pertinent to families today. Although Alice’s life is filled with sorrow for a time, she learns to forgive, cherish relationships, and that “The Sun is Gonna Shine Again.”
I was first introduced to this musical in January of 2018 when Tony-nominated Carmen Cusack, who originated the role on Broadway, played Alice at Pioneer Theater. Let me tell you, it is not easy to live up to that kind of performance, but I have to say that I was very impressed by CenterPoint Legacy Theatre’s rendition of Bright Star. For a community theatre production, it is remarkable what they are able to produce. Every single actor, including each ensemble member, is so polished and professional that I could easily believe these were paid actors, but they aren’t. Costume Designer Laurie Oswald and Wig Supervisor Shelly Swenson did a top-notch job with all of the costuming. The first thing I noticed in the opening number, “If You Knew My Story,” was how vibrant and colorful all of dresses are in their varying floral and plaid patterns, and every woman is wearing a beautifully styled wig that fits the time period.
Cynthia Klumpp (Scenic Charge Artist) painted beautiful scenic landscapes on the outer walls of North Carolina with pine trees on rolling green hills, but the entire stage felt like a painting at times with the expert lighting design by Erik Gun. Choreographer and Prop Master Marilyn Montgomery pulled it all together incorporating set pieces flawlessly; barrels are used as the legs of tables; Alice sits on a table that is lifted and moved across the stage as everything is used multiple ways. And Set Design and Shop Foreman Tuxton Mouton truly outdid himself; the set is gorgeous. I felt like a kid eagerly finding Easter eggs everywhere I looked. I mean, there is literally moving train wheels on the top of the set rotating the entire show. It doesn’t get much cooler than that.
The talent in this cast blew me away. Wilson’s Alice immediately impressed me with her deep rich tone and emotional complexity. I particularly loved when the ensemble members came in harmonizing with her. In “I Can’t Wait”, Wilson sings an eerie yet hopeful lullaby with ensemble members Mandie Wood Harris, Jillian Durham and Janelle Tingey who are “Spirits” in white dresses. It was one of my favorite songs because of the message, complex harmonies, and the talent needed to pull it off. Well done to musical director Tara Wardle for her work with the ensemble. While I did miss the live band that I am accustomed to seeing in Bright Star, I thought that they did a great job making it work without the band thanks to sound design by Krista Davies. A show like this takes a big team to make everything run smoothly including Stage Manager Megan Call, Assistant Stage Manager Judy Cook Binns and Technical Director Derek Walden.
Another standout moment is the song, “Please, Don’t Take Him.” This song features several members of the cast including Alice’s parents Daddy Murphy (Brett Klumpp/ Chad Wilkinson) and Mama Murphy (Suzanne White/Jan Williams Smith). This is a heart-breaking song full of authentic emotion. When Wilson and White come in with their harmonized plea, “Daddy, don’t you let him,” I had chills. Daddy Cane (Brett Klumpp/Chad Wilkinson) does a great job playing the antagonist and making the audience hate him by the end of the song.
Having seen the musical several times now, it was Strong’s portrayal of Jimmy Ray’s “Heart Breaker” that was the most transformative experience for me because it is centered around grief. Strong yells as he moves through the first few stages of grief while he sings. By the end of the song, he falls to the floor, physically unable to move. As the scene changed quickly around him, it almost felt wrong for the next scene to invade his space, and Strong didn’t move or get up at first; he couldn’t. I verbally let out a “wow.” His vocal performance is just strong as his emotional performance.
Director Tarbox mentioned coming across John Keats’ poem “Bright Star” in the program as she researched the play:
Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art—
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature’s patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth’s human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors—
No—yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever—or else swoon to death.
Tarbox says, “It is even more apparent to me that preserving a relationship is more important than preserving a principle, disciplining a wayward child, punishing an erratic parent, protecting a broken heart. While boundaries are set to protect us from hurt and harm, this story is the very essence of hope and forgiveness…with quite a few laughs. May we leave here tonight committed to live and love as a bright start shining in our little corner of the world.”
I highly recommend seeing CenterPoint Legacy Theatre’s production of Bright Star. It’s a lovely blend of song, mystery, and love.
This show includes mature themes.
Photography by Holly K. Reid.
CenterPoint Legacy Theatre presents Bright Star, book by Steve Martin and lyrics by Edie Brikell.
CenterPoint Legacy Theatre, 525 N 400 W, Centerville, UT 84014
Sep 23 – Oct 22, 2022, Monday – Saturday 7:30 PM, Saturday Matinees 2:30 PM
Tickets: $18.75-$34.50, Free Parking
Contact: 801-298-1302, CPTUtah.org, 525 N 400 W, Centerville, UT
CenterPoint Legacy Theatre Facebook Page
Bright Star promotional video
Bright Star promotional video
Bright Star is sponsored by a generous donation from First Community Bank.
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