Herald & Review (Decatur, IL) October 1, 1994
Section: Life
Page: A9
Quirky ‘Candide’ charms
In Review
David Burke
DECATUR -Front-row seats aren’t very advantageous for Millikin University’s first production of the season, the musical version of “Candide.”
The stage is extended into the first several rows of Kirkland Fine Arts Center, making normal viewing difficult. Several scenes are played on a miniature stage in the back of the auditorium. Cast members not only foray down the aisles at the sides of the theater, but through the rows of seats as well.
But that’s not all that’s played against the rules. The audience is told to get up for intermission. About three dozen audience members, appearing to be students, are seated on stage (unexplainably and perhaps unnecessarily). Audience members are asked to hold props.
If you’re going to breathe life into a centuries-old story, this is the way to do it, a la the Marx Brothers and Monty Python. The unconventional aspect of David Golden’s direction sends “Candide” over the top.
Golden gives the cast -six principals and a workhorse ensemble of 32 -full reins to ham it up as much as possible, and it’s all for the audience’s benefit.
In the title role, Gary Kilmer has a boyish charm that upholds the rest of the cast. The senior from Ottawa proves to be a striking figure and adept at comedy. As his love interest in the boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets back to girl, etc. story, Katherine Penning is charming. The Decatur freshman, in her first Millikin role, has an outstanding voice, showcased in several of the songs.
As their teacher and the show’s narrator, Daniel Metreyeon easily switches back and forth between the characters with a change of wig and of persona.
Karl Wahl as the self-obsessed Maximilian, Katie Williams as his sister and Alison Ewing as a helpful old lady with one buttock round out the cast.
Costume designer Mary Spencer has created -or so it seems -at least 100 costumes that are eclectic, to say the least: harem girls, pirates, monks and even sheep.
A. Wesley Tower conducts a 13-piece orchestra in some delightful instrumentals. The music, written by Leonard Bernstein with some lyrics added from Stephen Sondheim, is enjoyable though not highly memorable.
The actors, for at least some of the audience, do not make themselves audible or clear enough to effectively communicate the mouthfuls of dialogue to the audience, which is a pity.
That same cast, however, is so adept at slapstick and sight gags that it makes up for the loss of some of the dialogue.
David Burke is a Herald & Review staff writer.
Candide’
CAST
Candide.....Gary Kilmer
Volatire......Dan Metreyon
Cunegonde....Katherine Penning
Maximilian.....Karl Wahl
Old Lady......Alison Ewing
Paquette......Katie Williams
CREW
Director.......David Golden
Musical directors.....Stephen Fiol, Kenneth Lee
Orchestra director.......A. Wesley Tower
Choreographer.......Lauren Winslow-Kearns
Scenery........Eileen Smith
Costumes.......Mary Spencer
Lighting......Bradley Boute
Presented by Millikin University at Kirkland Fine Arts Center. Performances at 8 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $6 adults, $5 students at Kirkland box office, 424-6318.
Section: Life
Page: A9
Quirky ‘Candide’ charms
In Review
David Burke
DECATUR -Front-row seats aren’t very advantageous for Millikin University’s first production of the season, the musical version of “Candide.”
The stage is extended into the first several rows of Kirkland Fine Arts Center, making normal viewing difficult. Several scenes are played on a miniature stage in the back of the auditorium. Cast members not only foray down the aisles at the sides of the theater, but through the rows of seats as well.
But that’s not all that’s played against the rules. The audience is told to get up for intermission. About three dozen audience members, appearing to be students, are seated on stage (unexplainably and perhaps unnecessarily). Audience members are asked to hold props.
If you’re going to breathe life into a centuries-old story, this is the way to do it, a la the Marx Brothers and Monty Python. The unconventional aspect of David Golden’s direction sends “Candide” over the top.
Golden gives the cast -six principals and a workhorse ensemble of 32 -full reins to ham it up as much as possible, and it’s all for the audience’s benefit.
In the title role, Gary Kilmer has a boyish charm that upholds the rest of the cast. The senior from Ottawa proves to be a striking figure and adept at comedy. As his love interest in the boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets back to girl, etc. story, Katherine Penning is charming. The Decatur freshman, in her first Millikin role, has an outstanding voice, showcased in several of the songs.
As their teacher and the show’s narrator, Daniel Metreyeon easily switches back and forth between the characters with a change of wig and of persona.
Karl Wahl as the self-obsessed Maximilian, Katie Williams as his sister and Alison Ewing as a helpful old lady with one buttock round out the cast.
Costume designer Mary Spencer has created -or so it seems -at least 100 costumes that are eclectic, to say the least: harem girls, pirates, monks and even sheep.
A. Wesley Tower conducts a 13-piece orchestra in some delightful instrumentals. The music, written by Leonard Bernstein with some lyrics added from Stephen Sondheim, is enjoyable though not highly memorable.
The actors, for at least some of the audience, do not make themselves audible or clear enough to effectively communicate the mouthfuls of dialogue to the audience, which is a pity.
That same cast, however, is so adept at slapstick and sight gags that it makes up for the loss of some of the dialogue.
David Burke is a Herald & Review staff writer.
Candide’
CAST
Candide.....Gary Kilmer
Volatire......Dan Metreyon
Cunegonde....Katherine Penning
Maximilian.....Karl Wahl
Old Lady......Alison Ewing
Paquette......Katie Williams
CREW
Director.......David Golden
Musical directors.....Stephen Fiol, Kenneth Lee
Orchestra director.......A. Wesley Tower
Choreographer.......Lauren Winslow-Kearns
Scenery........Eileen Smith
Costumes.......Mary Spencer
Lighting......Bradley Boute
Presented by Millikin University at Kirkland Fine Arts Center. Performances at 8 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $6 adults, $5 students at Kirkland box office, 424-6318.
Copyright, 1994, Herald & Review, Decatur, IL