Date: Fri 29-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: DONNAM

Illustration: C

Quick Words:

Barlow-Players-Dolly-theatre

Full Text:

(rev "Hello Dolly" by Barlow Players, 11/29/96)

Theatre Review-

A Vibrant `Dolly' In Redding

(with photo)

By June April

REDDING - Dolly came to Redding for three days, and the Barlow Players did one

heckuva production. Belting out the title song, "Hello, Dolly," Carolyn Meyer

has the talent and looks to be a musical star.

Director George Vollano has the gift of taking non-professionals and creating

a production that not only works, but entertains audiences better than some

professional musicals. In addition to choosing strong leads, Mr Vollano knows

how to move the cast into the audience and bring the theatre experience

literally into their midst.

No production is a success without a strong support crew. Serving as

co-producer with Kathleen Slanski, Sabrina Post was also keyboardist and

musical director. With the addition of four professional musicians to fill out

the 12-piece student orchestra, director Kurt Eckhardt was impressive.

Particularly remarkable were the sets. Designed by Andrew Knapp, about six

triangularly shaped "turnable columns" were the bases of scenes in Yonkers,

New York City and the Harmonia Restaurant. Director Vollano expressed a worthy

and pragmatic thought when he suggested sets such as this not be "struck"

after a play, but stored so theatrical groups could share (and save money) by

re-using them. Musicals are particularly costly to put on, so there is merit

to his proposal. Anyone have some storage space available?

The period costumes, especially the hats, were created by Masha Watson with

care and panache. Dolly's dress in the famous restaurant scene was as

startling and jazzy as Streisand's in the film version of the play.

One of the reasons Barlow Players elects to do musicals is because the format

uses a larger cast than most conventional theatre productions. With a cast of

about 80, including dancers and the ensemble (33 and 34 participants,

respectively) many students could experience and appreciate what makes theatre

"tick."

Part of the successful production is what goes on when the actor is not in the

limelight. When they stay in character in the background you know the director

has done their job very well. As the comical, naive clerk Barnaby Tucker,

Peter Arcuni never lost the funny and quirky characterization of the role.

Also outstanding in the play was Nicole D'Aureli as the widowed millinery

store owner, Irene Malloy. Ms D'Aureli's grace and voice suited her role

beautifully. As her love interest, Cornelius Hackl, Ed Endlich was believable

and charming. The fine voice of Nathaniel Miller (a/k/a Horace Vandergelder)

makes him one of the Barlow Players' stars.

Debbie Brandt's dance instructions paid off nicely. With a few acrobatics

peppered into the Harmonia Restaurant scene, the energy and spirit throughout

this production was fun and effectively.