Date: Fri 08-Aug-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SUEZ

Quick Words:

Barnum-Barlow-theatre

Full Text:

(rev "Barnum" @Barlow Summer Theatre, 8/8/97)

Theatre Review-

Brilliant, But Short-Lived, "Barnum"

(with photo)

By June April

REDDING - Cotton candy, hot dogs, balloons, calliope tunes piping in the

summer air... the Greatest Show on Earth was here, for an all too brief stand.

Presented for one weekend only, Barlow Summer Theatre offered an excellent

showing of the musical Barnum the weekend of August 1-3.

Masterful in his creative set design, Andy Knapp of Newtown re-created P.T.

Barnum's exciting and festive world with paints and canvas. There were live

animals, music, and people hawking cotton candy, popcorn, and other big-event

foods outside Joel Barlow's High School doors.

In an area adjacent to the auditorium Mr Knapp created a sense of sideshows,

and bright canvas one sees on entering the main tent. On the Barlow Summer

Theatre stage was a fabulous set that rivaled those of a Broadway production.

Assisting Mr Knapp, and pegged with the title Master Painter, Ashley Skye

Cicire was an "invaluable" asset to the production, as she has been on others

designed by Mr Knapp.

An eight-piece orchestra was at center stage, but in a cage so as not to be

obtrusive. They had a fine, fine sound and carried the spirit of a wonderful

score most excellently.

Credit goes to another Newtown resident, Sabrina Post, who did a terrific job

of choreographing the production. As the show's musical director, Mrs Post

also had a special sense of personal pride because her two sons, Christopher

and Michael, were part of the circus troupe.

The interactive fun between actors and audience made Barnum a special

experience for the young children in the audience, as well as the adults.

The three female leads all had lovely voices. As Barnum's patient and

persistent wife Chairy, Nicole D'Aurelia is a familiar face (and voice) on the

Barlow Stage. A junior at Joel Barlow High School, her contribution to quality

is abundantly clear.

Wilton High School senior Kathryn Koslowski played a coy, flirtaceous Jenny

Lind. Her voice is strong and sweet, with strong operatic potential. She was

recently ranked the No. 1 female soprano in the Connecticut All-State Choir

and was a selected soloist for the Western Regional Choral Concert.

Vocally distinctive in the tradition of "red-hot mamas," Crash was terrific in

the numbers she performed. Her New York training truly shows.

Director George Vollano should be proud of taking some 80-plus actors ranging

in age from 8 to 24 and making the whole ensemble work on a semi-professional

level.

Kudos also are deserved by orchestra director and conductor Stephen Baranski,

costume designer Masha Watson, the lighting designer and crew, and technical

coordinator Kathleen Slanski.

Barnum is a fast-moving and interesting story, especially in the lore of local

history. Its music is beautiful and memorable.

It is unfortunate Barlow's Barnum did not have a longer run. Word would have

spread on the fine job done, and more people most certainly would have turned

out for a second weekend's worth of shows to enjoy the splendid efforts of

cast and crew.