16 — Friday, july 24, 1998 — North Shore News

Singin’ in the rain

Theatre Under The Stars goes west to Oklahoma!

@ Oklahoma! Music by Richard
Rodgers, book and lyrics by
Oscar Hammerstein II.
Produced by Theatre Under
The Stars. In repertory with
Hair until Aug. 15 at Malkin
Bowl in Stanley Park. Tickets
through: Ticketmaster at 280-
4444, Rain-out information on
the evening at 687-0174.

AS the program on my son’s
head got soggier it lost its shape
and curved over his ears, deposit-
ing the rain inside his jacket collar on either
side.

But we stayed, fortified with hot choco-
tate and popcorn (at prices that seemed like
a wonderful mistake in our favor after expe-
riencing the inhospitable moncy-grabbing of
B.C. Place’s concessions the previous week).

We had called the telephone number list-

_ ed above to
* inquire whether
the show would
appen. After all,
ad rained on
“and off for three straight faye and we had
no idea whether TUTS (Theatre Under The
Stars) would be technically ready to go, even
he company w was going to roll the dice

‘<A friendly young voice told us very firmly
that.the show cel

P. Tow,” she said.
k Plice ‘where the wind -
t behind the'rain I asked myself

efally before pi picking out my winter jack-

Martin MILlercHip
CURTAIN CALL

happen cach vear. Every time the
drips dried up, they'd look up
and then catch one another’s eye
as if to say, “See, I knew it would
be OK.”

Then, when it began to drizzle
again they’d shrug at cach other
with a wry smile that said, “One
day, this will make a funny story.”
The show itself had color and
flair enough to brighten up any
drab July evening in Vancouver
but docs have one problem that
is hard to ignore.

Let’s start with the good stuff.

The artistic team that created Fiddler on
the Roof for TUTS last year is reunited
again.

Musical director Wendy Bross Stuart gets
a full and fairly accomplished sound from
her young pit orchestra, while director
George Cotton and choreographer Lana
Morden achieve wonders with a large cast on
the somewhat constricted stage of Malkin
Bowl.

The ensemble control of the company is
really the strength of this productior..
Company numbers had none of the usual
hesitations and awkward moments of missed
steps on opening night, and some of the
specialty dance numbers were dang-nabbed
good.

Despite a couple ox dresses that looked
out of place, the general costume coordina-
tion is good and when the almost 40-strong
cast are all on stage voice, color and move-
ment lift the spirits.

Individually, the characterization is strong
with several standouts.

Carolyn Bergstrand: does an excellent job ,
‘of keeping the naively promiscuous Ado.

' Annie Carnes (the gal. who “cain’t say no”)

on the sweet side while Damon Calderwood: __

os is ‘wonderful as her cranky old. father .

He ‘and Mike Wild, who almost steals the

‘show as the wily peddiar Ali Hakim, both

know how te avoid stereotype while creating

' broadly comic characters.

ong i
i the legio:
whi play.a'big. art of maki

‘Anne. Pigott is a strong Aunt Eller and

_. Kimberly. Page does what she caii with the

dated stereotype of Laurey, the girl who sets

_ out to get her-man jealous and succeeds
with tragic results.

ato taal ”

‘Ann Mortifee

: ‘place, they would
do it. The North.
Shore Recycling Program gives
-\\ us so many opportunities to help
a the environment, it’s important
for all of us to ey our part and think globally

For More Information Call International Paper at 929-3416

marth chore shore’
ert Shans Pal
_ envi progr :

NORTH SHORE

iT
| CREDIT UNION S Prudential

NORTH shore residents (from left to right) Damon Calderwood, Carolyn Bergstrand
Michelle McL.cod, Sylvie Gosfe and Geoft Campbell appear in‘ Oklahoma

Page also has the best saice in the show
which would mean much, much mare if the
male leads sang better than they do. .

Roderick Ormiston is the best of the +
bunch (with some good tap moves to boot),
but his nicely understated Will Parker is a
supporting roic.

It is Curly, the romantic cowboy i in -
Laurey’s life who should carry the romantic’
tunes for which Ok/aboma! is famous -- the
title song, Ob What a-Beautiful Mornin’, The .
Surrey ith she Fringe on Top to name bur:

> three.

Unfortunately Geoff Campbell’s tenor is
not what Richard Rodgers had in mind

when he penned the show z :
Campbell and Christopher Arch of 3s
Curly’s némesis Jud Fry, are both:
actors: Campbell finding. the right Geht
touch for a romantic !ead while-Aré ‘
Jugubrious:vaice lends credib yy oth
black demons that drive.Fry’
: L have criticized, ‘TUTS i

* casting’ singers who. can’t. act;
‘acknowledge that, I. prefer:act

_ sing and repeat that I did,trul

Campbell anid Archer’s pé

Unfortunately, i it must. c
singing is a stall. hole-in the: bright:
that is Otighivma!

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