Majestic Theater, West
Springfield, MA
through May 26, 2013
by Eric Sutter
This is not "Any
Old Kind of Day" or any old kind of play. First, it was announced that
Harry Chapin's widow was in the audience, as she stood and was recoqnized.
Second, four singers -- two younger and two older -- weave a magical story
around the songs of Harry Chapin. With ups, downs and in-betweens, the story
captures the audience. Charmers "Corey's Coming" and "Salt and
Pepper" find the cast dancing in a clap and shout footloose jig. Each
player has a chance to shine. Human feelings unfold with favorites "Mr.
Tanner" and "The Rock." Big hit "Taxi" is sung by John
Herrera who catches the character's emotional rejection just right.
Excellent musicianship
by the crack band of musical director Mitch Chakour on keyboards, Greg
Alexander on guitar, Noah Schmitt on cello, Don Rovero on bass and Tim Hosmer
on drums keep the show heartfelt and rolling. The ramblin' story song
"Thirty Thousand Pounds of Bananas," about a trucker's dead end
dilemma (a hellslide to a pile of mashed bananas), delivers a humorous jolt of
laughter. A special dance sequence plays up the shadow of the moody
"Sniper" with its dramatic tension to end Act I.
While it might be
initially difficult to imagine enough Chapin's songs able to complete a story
woven together in a theatrical presentation, Act 2 proves to the contrary.
Chapin's music has strong character development unto itself, and combined with
the skillful and soulful musical direction of Chakour, the performance becomes
a winner. Chakour's piano lead into the cast's harmony singing of the hymn
"Nearer, My God, To Thee" seques into the rock n' roll humor of
"Danceband on the Titantic" with a spirited pairing of dancing
couples. "Mail Order Annie" showcases Tyler Morrill's song and dance
routine with beautiful Darcie Champagne.
"WOLD"
features Herrera in a stellar version of another Chapin classic that perfectly
evokes the character's frustration and loneliness. The lighting is effective
throughout the entire production, especially during "Cat's in the
Cradle" and the whole cast sing-a-long of "Odd Job Man." Sonja Stuart shines frequently with
a range of emotion from gutsy to sentimental in "A Better Place To
Be." The finale is something to behold as it all comes to "Circle."
