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The Raintree Company Off to Good StartBy Barbara Douglas – for the
NEW CASTLE – This week’s opening performance of Richard Rodgers’
musical comedy, “Two by Two,” was greeted by a near-capacity crowd of
enthusiastic Raintree County Opera House Guild members.
The first play of the summer season was held Tuesday in the Shelter House
of Henry County Memorial Park.
Although the score was somewhat hampered by
the lack of an orchestra, adept organ, piano and drum accompaniment managed to
give life to some of Rodgers’ catchiest tunes.
The story is that of Noah and the flood.
It is filled with the expected scenes of building the ark, loading the
animals, shoveling manure and sealing the covenant.
The musical is a softer, candy-coated
version of Clifford Odets’ “The Flowering Peach.”
Odets’ intense questioning of what kind of God could destroy the entire
world is preserved in the musical, but it becomes more of a diversion rather
than the major purpose.
The book of “Two by Two” suffers from the same problems that plague
“The Flowering Peach.” How many
people really want to hear about Noah again?
Are the love affairs of his children really of much interest?
However, the Opera House Guild’s production does indeed manage to make
Noah a fit subject for musical comedy. The
biggest reason for this is due to director Dick Willis’ dynamic and lovable
Noah. Whether he is shuffling across
the stage as the cantankerous 600-year-old with a hot line to God or springing
forth as a lusty youth of 90, he is a delight to watch and hear.
What his voice lacks in musical quality, he manages to compensate for
with sheer vigor.
Also quite convincing was the performance of
Vickie Willis as Esther, Noah’s wife of 125 years.
One of the show’s most touching moments pictures Noah trying to
persuade this common-sensical creature that to him she is as lovely as a bride.
Esther’s death scene is almost too melodramatic for musical
comedy—Little Nell, move over!
Inexperience seemed to be the chief problem
in the realization of the sons’ roles. Most
believable of the three was Jim Baird as Ham, the embittered middle son who
longed to be rid of his lovely wife. Phil
Barr’s miser, Shem, was somewhat over-caricatured, but furnished some healthy
amusement. Weakest in acting
ability, but strongest in male singing was Mike Fleming as Japheth, the tortured
and bewildered youngest son. His
exaggerated displays of facial emotion proved far too heavy for the intimate
in-the-round staging.
Overall, the first presentation indicates
the Raintree County Opera House Ugild is off to a promising start.
“Two by Two” will be presented tonight and Aug. 11 at |