The Best of Broadway 1990-1994
The Best of Broadway 1990-1994
Directed by Wade Hair and Joey Sikkema
Breakthrough theatre, Winter Park Florida</strong>
In the wavering candle of Breakthrough’s rather fluid schedule they periodically pull together one of these “Best of” series. The musical selections are eclectic and chosen to match the director or the singer’s preferences, which isn’t a bad thing. If you’re going to sing, why not pick the songs you like and can? That’s taken us down some obscure musical paths, and the period chosen tonight gave us a large number of revivals. We open with some tunes from “Beauty and the Beast” which kicked off Disney wildly successful Broadway adaptations. While “No Matter What” was a little saccharine for my taste Krystal Gillette’s “Home” was outstanding. Later we run into the “Gypsy” revival, which features gives stage mom’s a place to showcase their children. “May We Entertain You” features Mackendrick Zavitz and Carly Swain, and “If Momma Was Married” gives Madison and Kelty Zavitz a chance to crow. Less cute but much sexier singing comes from Vicki Burns and her “You Can Always Count On Me” from “City of Angels.” She sings it like a party girl whose always number 2 on some guy’s hit list, and you felt the fall out of the 1960’s sexual revolution. Act One wraps with a “Guys and Dolls Medley” and the song that made me sit up and take notice was Natasha Ticotin belts “Adel’s Lament.” It’s a tough song, and you have to sing with a head cold. That’s a skill, all right.
Some tunes from “Grease” opens Act 2 with the unusual “Alma Mater” and the romantic “Mooning”. Miss Saigon gave us two show stoppers: “Why God Why” by Jamaal Solomon and Vicki Burns and Krystal Gillette with “I Believe” You know the old saying – “Lose a war, gain musical.” Director Wade Hair belted a few numbers, including “Lily’s Eyes” from “Secret Garden” and “Look Around” from the “Will Rogers Follies.” The wrap up was a Sweeny Todd Medley with everyone on stage for “Ballad of Sweeney Todd.” The plaintive “By The Sea” featured Vicki Burns wishing she could be lead a normal middle class life, and what more middle class than renting a sea side cottage for the summer? Tonight Breakthrough showcased a solid invigorating show that gave us a taste of some wonderful obscurities and even better voices.
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