Clinton
Community Theatre
CHICAGO Reviews
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Review: 'Chicago' makes
triumphant visit to Clinton
By Karye Ann Hunsicker
ITEM CORRESPONDENT
CLINTON—
Clinton Community Theatre
did itself proud during its 25th anniversary celebration, taking a
successful journey to the late 1920's "Chicago," when jazz, liquor, and
romance were words on everyone's lips.
The show is the story of adultery, murder, and the trials of six 1920's
era murderesses, and their plights. The play focuses on two in
particular, Velma Kelly, a risqué and flirtatious woman who shot and
killed her husband and sister upon discovering them together in bed, and
adulteress Roxie Hart, who shot her boyfriend after she realized he
would never make her a famous dancer.
Taking on the role of Roxie was Stephanie Fields, who's strong, yet
angel-sweet voice gave her character so much appeal. She and Velma,
played by Whitney Stone, ended up together on death row, each working
hard toward gaining notoriety through the press to harness public
concern and support, ultimately saving them from their fate of being
hanged.
Stone's strong voice and superb
dancing drew the crowd in and gave her character the air of being able,
yet ruthless, contrasting Field's wide-eyed innocence, which promoted
her manipulating capabilities.
After obtaining information and direction from prison matron, Mama
Morton, played by Alyssa Wetherell, the murderesses each sought help
from one of the best lawyers in Chicago, Billy Flynn, played by Scott
Smith. Smith's commanding performance as Flynn, a high-priced lawyer who
"never lost a case for a woman he defended," was right on the money. His
banter and command of each situation that arose with the two conniving
inmates, Roxie and Velma, was excellent.
Not to be overlooked was Ted Zayka's portrayal of Amos Hart, Roxie's
moonstruck, spectacle-clad, husband, who wanted to believe in his
wayward wife, despite it all.
The stellar supporting cast and ensemble completed the effect of
bringing the "Razzle Dazzle" of post prohibition Chicago to life.
Sultry and flirtatious dancing abounds in "Chicago" in numbers such as
"All That Jazz" and "Cell Block Tango."
The orchestra never missed a beat providing music: Nate Newton,
orchestra director, played piano, Scott Rossley, played bass on a guitar
given to him by Lancaster Elementary Band Students two years ago, where
he teaches music, Paul Coffill played reeds, Robert Auger, trumpet,
Michelle Benoit, trombone, and Bruce Hanagan, percussion.
The play runs for another weekend, Friday, July 28, and Saturday, July
29, at 8 p.m. at Clinton Town Hall. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for
seniors and children under 12. For more information, call (978)368-1312.
Clinton Selectmen Chairman Steven Mendoza presented Director Bill Grady
with a plaque prior Saturday night's performance, honoring Grady for his
contribution to Clinton Community Theatre, in honor of the theater's
25th anniversary.
"I offer sincere thanks to selectmen, present and past boards, for
supporting the Clinton Community Theatre and allowing us to 'be here'
for 25 years," Grady said.
Catching a brief conversation with Grady after the play, he summed up
the experience with that well know twinkle in his eye, many have grown
to love over the years, "It was fun; a lot of hard work, but fun!"
All that
Jazz
By
Patrick Brodrick/ Staff Writer
Times & Courier
It's
been 25 years since the Clinton Community
Theatre first took the stage and, surprisingly, not a lot has changed.
The productions are still high quality and the efforts to continue
putting on productions year after year is almost a completely
grassroots, volunteer effort.
This year the troupe is performing the
Broadway smash "Chicago" and with the curtain closing on two
performances the group still has two shows on Friday and Saturday.
According to Director Bill Grady, opening
weekend came off without a hitch and attracted about 475 people between
the two nights
The company, which
started in 1981 as the brainchild of George Bourgeois, has performed
such classics as "Anything Goes," "My Fair Lady," "Beauty and the Beast"
and "Chicago" in it’s 25-year history.
Grady started with the troupe in 1982 singing in the chorus during "Anything Goes" and has been with the Clinton Community Theatre ever since.
"I think over time the experience we have gained has allowed us to really perfect the performances," Grady said. "The overall quality, as far as the productions, has come a long way in 25 years."
John Bailey started with the theater company in 1981 and worked with the group for 12 years. He said, even though he’s not involved with the group any longer, every year he still makes it up to the Town Hall to catch every production. "When we first started money was scarce," Bailey said. "The crew and actors were all made up of volunteers; nobody got paid because we didn’t have any money. All the money we made went back into the production. The pianist played for free and usually they knew some other people that they could get to play for free and that was our band."
Bill Murrman started with the company in the very beginning and stayed involved with the productions until a few years ago. Through the years his daughter became involved with the productions and now his granddaughter performs with the group. "At that time it was hard to get people to come out and get involved with a production," Murrman said. "We had to go out and badger people to get involved sometimes."
But every year the group managed to get enough people to volunteer their time and money for the production, and as word spread more and more people became involved. When it first started the Clinton Community Theatre was only performing one play a year, now it puts on two productions, one in the spring and the other in the summer.
"Every time we put on a play we gained a little more self confidence,"
Bailey said. "Every time we put on a play people kept coming, so we
figured as long as people were coming we’d keep putting on the shows."
Both Murrman and Bailey said they never
expected the community theater to last 25 years.
So, in a time when community theater groups are closing their doors, what has allowed the Clinton Community Theatre to remain one of the premier names in local theater? Murrman and Bailey both agree none of it would be possible without the help from the volunteers.
"It’s always been lucky in attracting a good group of people to participate each year," Murrman said. "That’s what really made it last for 25 years and hopefully it will last for another 25."
"There’s a lot of talent in the area now because they have been doing it so long," Bailey said. "The talent when we first started was very raw, but it has really been allowed to develop over the years. They have some very talented actors in the performances."
Grady, Murrman and Bailey
also stressed how important theater is, not just in Clinton but every
community. This year the company was presented with a certificate from
the Board of Selectmen commending the community theatre on its success.
"Clinton has always been
a sports oriented town," Grady said. "And that’s great, but I think it
is important to have the arts as well. This is another avenue for those
people that are looking for something else other than sports."
However, when rehearsals
for the plays can take up eight to 10 hours a week for months leading up
to the production, countless man hours getting the set and costumes
ready, choreographing dance numbers and everything else involved in
staging a production, what keeps people coming back and volunteering
their time?
For Grady, who in 24 years with the
community theater has become the backbone of the group, taking over the
directing role in 1993, the answer is simple.
"I love it," Grady said, noting that he also directs plays for Nashoba Regional High School and the Luther Burbank Middle School. "I love the shows and when I was asked to direct I looked at it as a chance to give back some of what I have learned over the years from previous groups. It really has become like a family."