A Utah Theater Review by BJ Wright
I can’t imagine what it would have been like to live at a time when our country was filled with so much turmoil as when the Civil War was upon us. Hale Center Theater Orem is currently putting on The Civil War, based on a book written by Frank Wildhorn and Gregory Boyd. The music was written by Frank Wildhorn with lyrics by Jack Murphy. Don’t go to this show expecting a traditional play or musical with a story line that is easy to follow. It is set up as a thematic revue to help one to understand some of the more human elements of this horrific event in the history of the United States. There are very few spoken lines, instead stories are told through several styles of music including Gospel, Folk, Country, Rock, and Rhythm and Blues.
If you have never been to the Hale Center Theater Orem, the venue is quite cozy. The audience sits around three sides of the stage. There isn’t a bad seat in the house. Director Neal C. Johnson masterfully staged the play so that audience members sitting on all sides of the stage are able to see interesting pictures on the stage at all times. With the audience being so close to the stage, it was also important that the costumes not distract from the stories being shared. I commend costume designer Maryann Hill and her costume assistant Amanda Fit on their attention to detail.
I enjoyed the evening very much. The music was enjoyable, the acting believable, and the choreography was pleasurable to watch. I must admit, however, that it is not likely a production I am likely to see again. This is of no fault of any of the incredible people involved at Hale Center Theater Orem, rather with the way the show was written. The revue format of the play made it difficult for me to follow the individual story lines throughout the play. With that in mind, I wish to share with you my favorite parts of the evening.
The shining stars of the night for me were Ben Henderson (Corporal William McEwen) and Stacia Hardy (Sarah McEwen). They share a story of a couple who was separated as the husband is sent off to war. Their interactions are portrayed through letters written to each other. The love and tenderness they brought to their numbers – “Missing You, Sarah,” and “The Honor of Your Name” could be felt throughout the theatre. They helped me to imagine what it might be like to be separated during a time of war.
Another of the most enjoyable moments for me was the song “I Never Knew His Name” sung by Elizabeth Dabczynski-Bean (Violet Edmonds), Amanda Crabb (Mabel Cushman), and Stacia Hardy (Sarah McEwen). In this song, these ladies portray nurses taking care of soldiers who survived the ugly battles, yet passed away in the hospitals as a result of their wounds. These three ladies combine their beautiful voices in haunting melodies that I never wanted to end.
The ensemble as a whole also did very well in numbers such as “By The Sword/Sons of Dixie” as well as the Finale “The Glory.” As a whole this is a solid cast. There were a few notes off key here and there, and one or two of the few spoken lines were missed, but that did not detract from the great sense of patriotism I felt from their performance. As I said once before, it is a production I will not likely see again, but it is worth seeing at least once. It will provide you a glimpse into what life was like during the American Civil War. It also lends itself well as a catalyst for discussions about freedom, honor and faith.
Don’t Miss Your Opportunity to See
The Civil War
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