Memphis opens the 2012-2013 Season of Broadway Sacramento
A Review by Ken Kiunke
Staff Reporter
Memphis, the 2010 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, opened the new season for Broadway Sacramento on Tuesday night, and runs until Sunday November 4th. Memphis is the story of an illiterate white man, Huey Calhoun, who has a feel for the black music played in the underground clubs of Memphis in 1951. He enters their world, and through sheer guts and tenacity, brings the music he loves to the white audience of his town, battling racism and the establishment the whole way. The story is loosely based on real Memphis, Tennessee disc jockey Dewey Phillips, who played a mix of white and black music on his radio and TV shows, and who was the first to broadcast Elvis Presley's debut record. Photo by Paul Kolnik: Felicia Boswell (Felicia) in the National Tour of MEMPHIS presented by Broadway Sacramento at The Community Center Theater.
Memphis The Musical was the creation of Broadway producer George W. George, and written by Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan (music and lyrics) and Joe DiPietro (lyrics and book.) All the music is original, and tries to recreate the early sound of rhythm and blues melding into early rock & roll within a Broadway musical sound. The story begins three years before Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Elvis would burst on the scene, so it makes sense and feels right that the story doesn't use, or simulate their style of music. (Berry's own song “Memphis, Tennessee” came out in 1959.) Photo by Paul Kolnik: Felicia Boswell (Felicia) & Bryan Fenkart (Huey) in the National Tour of MEMPHIS presented by Broadway Sacramento at The Community Center Theater
The production uses some clever devices to help convey the story. When a record is played, the singers will suddenly appear somewhere on the stage, but not in the scene with the characters. And when Huey hosts a TV show, you see both the live presentation and a camera view projected above, so you can tell what the home viewers are seeing on their black & white sets. And transitions between scenes are smooth and seamless using lighting techniques and sliding stage elements.
Bryan Fenkart plays the part of Huey Calhoun as a fast talking slick country boy with a good heart. He brings humor and expression to the part, and does a good job singing with his reedy tenor voice, especially when mixed with the other singers. Felicia Boswell plays the part of Felicia Farrell, the young black woman whose music takes Huey's soul, and steals his heart as well. Their inter-racial relationship creates the conflict that drives the story and sets the obstacles that the characters need to overcome. Boswell's voice is the star of the show, as she soars with heart and soul in song after song, but never overdoes it. So many of today's female “diva” singers feel they have to warble and change notes as much as possible to show their talent, but Boswell never goes there, and treats the songs with respect and authenticity. She first shines bright in “Colored Woman” and “Someday” in the first act, and “Love Will Stand When All Else Falls” in the second. Photo by Paul Kolnik: Felicia Boswell (Felicia) & Bryan Fenkart (Huey) in the National Tour of MEMPHIS presented by Broadway Sacramento at The Community Center Theater
In the supporting cast, Horace Rogers as Delray, Felicia's brother and protector, has a strong presence and excellent baritone voice. He is the one, during group songs, who pushes the melody over the top. Gator, as played by Rhett George, is silent in most of the first act, but gets to show off his powerful tenor voice in “Say a Prayer” and again later in the second act. Will Mann as Bobby is great as the shy big man who comes out of his shell when he has a chance on Huey's TV show. And Julie Johnson as Mama shocks everyone with her breakout song “Change Don't Come Easy”. After hiding behind her frumpy mom role in the beginning, she slowly emerges until she brings the house down in the second act. And the entire cast puts on a rousing finale with “Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll”.
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The story itself is somewhat cliché and filled with “we know better now” elements about racism in the mid 20th century south, and elsewhere in America. It would have been more socially relevant back in the 1960's, and probably much more controversial with the inter-racial romance and kisses, and especially the morning after scene when Huey and Felicia get together. But the story also has some surprises, and ably carries the theme and the music along. And it avoids the predictable happy ending, leaving you with some hope of romance and for the future of these people. Photo by Paul Kolnik: Quentin Earl Darrington (Delray), Felicia Boswell (Felicia) and the national touring cast of MEMPHIS presented by Broadway Sacramento at The Community Center Theater
The reception by the Sacramento crowd was very appreciative, and brought a standing ovation for the cast, spurred on, no doubt, by Julie Johnson and Felicia Boswell's outstanding performances. The band, who remains mostly hidden during the show behind the set pieces, got to come out during the final number, and were also greeted warmly by the crowd for their great “behind the scenes” performance. Memphis the Musical plays at the Sacramento Community Theater through November 4, 2012.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets for the performance, please visit www.californiamusicaltheatre.com - call (916) 557-1999, or visit the box office located at 1301 L street in downtown Sacramento. Five (5) and 6-Show Season Ticket Packages are on sale now. The 2012-13 Broadway Sacramento Season begins with Memphis, shows October 30 - November 4, 2012, a new musical featuring the underground dance clubs of 1950 Memphis with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Next show is Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, December 26-30, 2012. More at www.calmt.com
Established in 1989 by the non-profit California Musical Theatre, who also produce Music Circus and The Cosmopolitan Cabaret, Broadway Sacramento is the region’s largest live performing arts event with over 200,000 tickets sold annually. Presenting national Broadway tours at the Sacramento Community Center Theater, Broadway Sacramento draws theatre-lovers from as far as the Oregon border to western Nevada and the Central Valley. Photo: the Sacramento Community Center Theater
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