**** It has been many years since any local theater company has taken on Lerner & Lowes’s “Brigadoon”, a love story to end all love stories. If one thinks back in time, one may remember that this play will put you in a special mood. “It’s Almost Like Being in Love” to see this wonderful story about a man who is facing a life that he is not sure about and while on a vacation with his best buddy, finds that something special he has always wanted. Music Theater Works has always been known for bringing classics to its audience. Now that they have moved to Skokie, and alternate between the larger stage and the small, a play like “Brigadoon” makes pure sense. One needs very little set design to pull this one off- a bridge is all they needed and Ann Davis has created a beautiful one.
Directed by Sasha Gerritson, with a stunning cast, this production brings back memories from many years ago. I think Marriott was the last place I saw this show and over the years I have wondered when a company will step forward and do something that is simple and lovely with a story that is pure fantasy and at the same time, pure love. After all, the story is about a village that only comes alive one day every one hundred years, and in this case, our hero Tommy Albright (Conor Jordan is dynamic) meets Fiona (played to perfection by Sarah Obert) and one can feel that they are a match made in heaven. Yet, in order for this to take place, he can never leave.
Best friend, Jeff ( Zachery Linnert) is along for the ride, and while he cares about Tommy, he is not ready to take the plunge. Or is he? The cast is solid and the costumes (Jazmin Aurora Medina ) are very Scottish. The ensemble is composed of: Madison Kauffman as Meg Brocki, Luke Nowakowski, Stan Austin , Will Leonard, Bob Sanders, Susannah Harvey, Kent Joseph, Timothy Wolf, Adam Raso, Delaney Good, Isa Ramirez, Jimmy Hogan, Anna Marie Abbate, Emma Jean Eastlund, Theresa Egan, David Geinosky, Dee Kimpel, Olivia Russell, Alex Villasenor, Chad Gearig-Howe and Renee Dwyer. There were a few instances where the stage seemed crowded, but it seems choreographer Clayton Cross figured out a way to do crowd control and make the dance numbers striking.
Those of us who go back to Light Opera Works days know that this company prides itself on taking on the classics and making them work. They still have it! If you believe in miracles ( or would like to think they are possible) you will find this story enchanting. The songs are powerful and while most may not seem familiar, once you hear them, they will ring a bell. Songs like “Brigadoon”, “The Love of my Life”, “Come To Me, Bend To Me”, and “I’ll Come Home To Bonnie Jean” in addition to “Almost Like Bein In Love” and “The Heather On The Hill”-.Classics and done to perfection.
“Brigadoon” will continue at North Shore Center for Performing Arts thru November 12th with performances as follows;
Sun, Oct 22:2:00pmWed, Oct 25:1:00pm
Fri, Oct 27:8:00pm
Sat, Oct 28:2:00pm & 8:00pm
Sun, Oct 29:2:00pm
Wed, Nov 1:1:00pm
Fri, Nov 3:8:00pm
Sat, Nov 4:2:00pm & 8:00pm
Sun, Nov 5:2:00pmWed, Nov 8:1:00pm
Fri, Nov 10:8:00pm
Sat, Nov 11:2:00pm & 8:00pm
Sun, Nov 12:2:00pm
Show Type: Musical
Box Office: 847-673-6300
The theater is located in Skokie at 9501 Skokie Blvd. ( just South of Golf Rd and Old Orchard
Plenty of free parking.
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Brigadoon”.
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