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By Eric McCrea
By Eric McCrea
New Castle, Pa.
Once in a great while, a movie gets adapted into a Broadway musical. The New Castle Playhouse’s latest Rodgers and Hammerstein production is the finest kind of such an anachronism. Originally written as a novel by Phil Strong in 1932, “State Fair” was transformed into a film in 1933, and later adapted into a post-World War II musical in 1945.
The story follows the Frake Family as they venture to the Iowa State Fair, where the patriarch, Abel, played by Hans Kraus, is entering his prize boar into competition.
His wife, Melissa (Tina Greig), is competing with her pickle and mincemeat recipes. While at the state fair, their son Wayne, portrayed by Matt Barnes, strays from his hometown girlfriend to become lovey-dovey with the showgirl, Emily Arden (Kali Davies-Anderson) at the same time that his sister Margy, played by Carly Edman, meets a charming journalistic beau by the name of Pat Gilbert (Luke Watterson).
Will the Frake family have a happy ending? Well, the show is set in 1946, so you can bet dollars to doughnuts it will.
Director Michael Cavalier has done justice to a classic show. He was able to find a stellar group of dancers, who performed choreographer Julia Garda’s vision to perfection. Watterson in particular mastered Garda’s dance steps.
Vocally, he was outdone by his love interest, Edman, but she was a Broadway powerhouse, belting out such hits as “It Might As Well Be Spring,” and “The Next Time It Happens.”
Davies-Anderson was able to match that level of vocal and dance prowess, with the help of her harmonic Fairtones, Brandon Acosta, John Mollick, Coy Price and Grant Weaver.
An outstanding performance was delivered by fair judge Heppenstahl played by Phillip L. Clark Jr. His drunken stumbling and slurred speech were a comic highlight.
Kraus and Greig had great chemistry together, and also were able to shine on their own.
Kraus was great with his fair-buds, Ed Phillips, Neal Edman and Jeffrey Hall, especially in the rousing “More Than Just A Friend.”
Vivian and Jeanne, a pair of fair performers played by Allyson Hood and Mariah Fornataro, respectively, were excellent together.
Also worthy of note was the young Alexa Vitale, who played the police chief’s daughter. She shined in her dance number with Barnes, who was able to make the number endearing and a crowd favorite.
The set was an amazing depiction of Iowa state fair-ness with vibrant colors. Scene changes, largely carried out by the cast, were swift and worth a watch. Costumes were vibrant and era-appropriate, completing the period experience.
Aside from a few opening-night technical glitches, including some follow-spot issues that continue to be a problem for the New Castle Playhouse, opening night was a proud moment for Youngstown’s neighbor. Rodgers and Hammerstein would approve whole-heartedly.
“State Fair” runs today and next Sunday at 2 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. For reservations, call 724-654-3437.