If Spring Awakening had married Book of Mormon, their offspring might well have been BARE. This musical treat played all too briefly last weekend at the Helen Theatre at Playhouse Square.
Directed by Laura Welsh Berg, this musical marks the 16th anniversary of partnership productions between Playhouse Square and Baldwin Wallace University. It may have been the best one yet thanks to a score packed with memorable songs sung by outstanding (and age-appropriate) young (future) stars.
Although several storylines race through the plot, the main one concerns the effects of growing sexual awareness upon Jason (Trevor Gill-Snow) and Peter (Mateus Leite Cardoso), two senior students at Saint Cecilia’s Catholic Boarding School. Gill-Snow and Cardoso bring reality and pathos to their characters’ struggles to decide just who they are.
The senior school play, Romeo and Juliet, allows all the students to shine as they dance and sing during and in between rehearsals. Their no-nonsense stage director Sister Chantelle (Sydney Jaye) seems to understand much of what distresses her students. (Jason and Peter aren’t the only ones.) Jaye’s appearance (and costume change) as a heavenly apparition to the suffering Peter provides one of the most show-stopping moments. Since the show has almost three dozen songs (ranging from sad solos to romping rock), nothing is boring and almost everything is musical.
Others in the vibrant cast included Maggie Newcomb, Sophia Edwards, Dakota Renteria, Jack Prisco, Kechanté Baker, Jaedynn Latter, Avery Elledge, Keaton Miller, Justin Lee-Price, Kyle MacDonald, Andie Peterson, Richard Morgan, Gabi Ilg, Julia Martin, Jonah Warhaft, and Antony Mejia.
Music Director Harrison Roth (a BW senior) conducted a small band, tucked behind the main stage area, that gave excellent support without blasting the audience.
In addition to Berg (this is her directorial debut with the BW Music Theatre program), the creative team included Lauren Tidmore (choreographer), Patrick John Kiernan (sound designer), and Russell Borski (scenic, lighting, and costume designer).
Bottom Line: An excellent, Broadway-quality musical, presented by future Broadway stars in an intimate setting that allowed everyone to see, hear, and enjoy the show. Same time next year? I hope so.
[Written by Laura Kennelly, member: Cleveland Critics Circle, Music Critics Association of North America]
One Response to “THEATER REVIEW: “Bare” @ Playhouse Square by Laura Kennelly”
EDWARD MYCUE
I don’t understand the title for this lively awakening, BARELY. “BARELY” what? I like the idea of so many/ much music numbers. The energy and talents adumbrated in this review describe what I want in a musical —