[rating=3] Music Theater Works has become a bit daring in its move from Evanston’s Northwestern Campus to Skokie’s North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. Under the leadership of Kyle A. Dougan, Artistic Director, they have taken on new challenges that truly changed them from the old “Light Opera Works” of yore. Their latest adventure in theater is bringing “Zorro: The Musical” to its stage. Many of us know the character from books of adventure and of course the Walt Disney TV classic that ran for two years back in the late 1950’s. I think Guy Williams became type cast. Other films have been made and of course those who love swashbucklers love the character, Zorro (the fox).The musical version that Music Theater Works has brought to Skokie is in fact the show that played for several years in several countries and kind of fell off the face of the earth during Covid.
Dougan has wanted to bring this show to the Chicago area and made up his mind that it would be on the schedule after the pandemic was somewhat over. (note: we still need to cover our faces with masks /like our hero) The book for this show is written by Stephen Clark and Helen Edmundson and is based on the novel by Isabel Allende. For the record, the original Zorro was created by Johnston McCulley in 1919.
This show is in many ways like “Mama Mia” in that the music is from one group, Gipsey Kings with John Cameron and the story is woven using this music just as Abba’s music did in the aforementioned hit. I don’t see this play ever becoming as popular as” Mama Mia”. Directed by Adrian Abel Azevedo, this show takes a while to get off the ground. The script does not develop the story as sharply as one might like but as we approach the second act, it improves and the second act is far stronger with some great sword fight action (Nick Sandys truly did his thing with the fight scenes). The choreography (Laura Savage) is divine with some wonderful numbers by the women and in particular the three female Flamenco dancers (Lina Bulovaite, Jocelyn Leving and Karla Tennies Kozlura). The Flamenco guitarist, Diego Salcedo was magnificent.
The story is romantic. Diego (Cisco Lopez, who at first seemed to be miscast, but turned out to be just right) is sent off to school in Spain ( where he learns to handle the sword) and when he returns with a band of Gypsies finds that his father, Don Alejandro (Luis A. Galvez) has been taken prisoner by the military junta. His goal is to free his father and their community from these tyrants and his course of action is to take on a persona that will do it for him, thus Zorro is born. The story is filled with romance, hope and the ability to stand up for one’s rights. It is about spirit and understanding that if one puts their mind to it, they can do almost anything.
The love of Diego’s life is Luisa,(Laura Quinones who has a powerful voice and an extraordinary range). She was his friend before he left California. His best freind as a boy is now his enemy, Ramon (Emmanual Ramirez) and the Gypsy ladyInez ( played to perfection by Alix Rhode) is a character that helps him in many ways to bring Zorro to life. Other cast members are: J. Christian Hill ( Sgt Garcia, a lot different than the Disney version), Victor Lopez, Malachi Marrero, Jazmine Tamayo, Kaitlyn Pasquinelli (dance captain), Henry Cartaya, Luis Del Valle, Trillium Falcotico, Jair Herrera, Bruce, Holtman, Liora Lahav and Autumn Thelander. Great work by an energetic cast. By the way, this production is in association with Ensemble Espanol.
The tech portion of the production worked well. Adriana Diaz did the costumes, Andrew Meyers the lighting and Eric Backus the sound. Jaqueline and Richard Penrod created a set that allowed for some great fight scenes and the Spanish dances were choreographed by Luis Beltran Urena. The music director and orchestra conductor was Justin Kono. In the old days they always had a full orchestra- this show would never need that, after all this is the music of The Gipsy Kings.
” Zorro :The Musical” will continue thru August 21st with performances as follows:Sat, Aug 13:2:00pm & 8:00pm
Sun, Aug 14:2:00pm
Wed, Aug 17:1:00pm
Fri, Aug 19:8:00pm
Sat, Aug 20:2:00pm & 8:00pm
Sun, Aug 21:2:00pm
Show Type: Musical
Running Time: 2 hours and 35 minutes with one 15 minute intermission. Might be a bit long, but at least I didn’t notice anyone catching their ZZZZZZZs
Tickets range from$39.00 and can be purchased by calling the number below ( guests 25 years of age and younger- 50% off)
Box Office: 847-673-6300
or at:
Music Theater Works is now performing at The North Shore Center For Performing Arts located at 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie with plenty of free parking
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Zorro, the Musical”.
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