From Dave Begels review of I Hear America Singing (read the full review here: mobile.onmilwaukee/ent/articles/ihearamericasinging ) Hagen, who wrote the music, lyrics and book for this production, takes his actors on a journey of musical love and with open arms invites the audience to come along. At its heart, I Hear America Singing is about music and the power of music to move. It is about the voice, the words and music that can, and have, thrilled millions for centuries. Each of us knows the power of the voice. I’ve heard Pavarotti, k.d. lang and Louis Armstrong. I saw Marian Anderson, Pearl Bailey and George Jones. And that is what music is about. It’s about moments that stay with us forever.... The words and music are both clever and compelling. The harmonies are rare and exciting. This is a work where you have to pay attention. And it’s easy to do with this cast. Frankenberry, who served as music director, eloquently captured the dissolute composer, trying one more time for a ride on the merry-go-round. Greif has a soaring soprano that commands the stage, and she nails the worn-down diva who is tired of the road, tired of hotels and tired of her life. Pendzich may well have been the busiest actor in Milwaukee this past season, and he delivers another bravura performance here. He is both funny and pathetic as he makes us chuckle and cringe in sadness. He is an actor of immense range. Skylight closes its season next week when it opens Hair, the tribal rock opera with a hash-pipe full of familiar songs. But I think the real stamp artistic director Viswa Subbaraman has planted on this company has come in two works with music that is outside the familiar. One was the magnificent El Cimarron with a score by Hanz Werner Henze. I Hear America Singing can take its place right alongside that impressive show as the kind of unique and fascinating productions that deserve a full house every night.
Posted on: Sat, 10 May 2014 23:05:11 +0000
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