Footloose presented by Rainbow Stage, Monday June 18, 2012
Reviewed by Stephanie Adamov
The pilgrimage to the iconic Rainbow Stage is a summer tradition for many musical theatre loving families. Savvy Winnipeggers will pack extra blankets, bugspray and seat cushions as they watch aspiring homegrown talent bloom where they are planted at Canada’s largest outdoor theatre.
Sure enough, when dusk darkened to night, those extra blankets Mama told you to bring sure came in handy on a chilly opening night of Footloose. The toe tapping musical tells the story of Ren and his mother Ethel leaving the Windy City for a small southern town where dancing is outlawed. Ren aims to eradicate this legislation with the support of his friend Willard, love interest Ariel, and her dance crazed friends. Ariel happens to be the rigid Reverend Shaw’s daughter. She has a keen eye for danger and trouble as she rebels against her father and rendezvous with dropout and drug dealer Chuck Cranston.
Nearly thirty years since its film debut in 1984, featuring baby-faced Kevin Bacon as Ren and up-and-coming Sarah Jessica Parker as Ariel’s friend Rusty, Footloose reveals that it is a story about severe loss. Reverend Shaw is so overcome by the death of his son that he forbids the use of liquor, drugs, rock music and dancing within the town. Ren is so confused and conflicted about his dad’s abandonment that he too is overflowing with emotion that he keeps concealed. The only catharsis he has is dance. Therefore, he is outraged when he moves to Bomont, and learns that his only means of coping is illegal.
Director Carson Nattrass expressed that Rainbow Stage was also coping with a severe loss. Ken Peter, who was an important creative force in Winnipeg’s musical theatre scene, as well as Footloose choreographer Scott Peter’s father, had both passed away this last December. The community of Rainbow stage banded together to make Ken’s final season a reality.
David Ball grooves with his Walkman as Ren
Walkman loaded, Doug Ball strutted onto the stage as Ren McCormack. Nattrass presented Footloose in keeping with its original setting of the USA in 1984. The show opened with a busy Chicago Street, then transitioned to a quaint rural chapel. The posters of “Scarface” and “Return of the Jedi” were replaced by benches, a lectern and a prominent stained glass window.
Tributes to Say Anything (1989) and Risky Business (1983) were paid homage to during lighting designer Scott Henderson’s fuchsia-tinted strobe light show in “Holding Out for a Hero.” Although the notes were on pitch, the hair was kept pretty flat and more backcombing was needed to present the ultra 80s experience. Small town or not, the 80s feel could have been integrated more throughout the show as well as with Deb Schinkel’s costume design.
In addition to the 80s setting, the distant, secluded southern town concept seemed to have been shouldered by only a handful of characters. Markian Tarasiuk was the ultimate comedic relief as the half wit friend Willard. His romantic partner, Rusty, played by firecracker Stephanie Sy, was explosive and memorable during her multiple solos throughout the show. Sharon Bajer also added some humour as she tackled the confrontational Willard and utterly jealous Chuck, played by Jeremy Walmsley as the matron at the “Burger Blast.” She single handedly stopped the fight but still needed assistance with a single push to get her caboose offstage.
Although presented during a cool Winnipeg evening, much of the sexual heat and profanity was unexpectedly left uncensored for Rainbow Stage. Although this tension remained, surprisingly all the dramatic fight scenes occurred completely off stage.
As rebellious Ren McCormick, David Ball was often lost amongst the chorus during major dance scenes. The angst of his character was often diluted and there was very little chemistry between Ball and Julia McLellan, who played the defiant Ariel.
The ensemble with skipping ropes
Aside from an astounding skip rope sequence with the young ensemble to conclude the first act, the finale, which climaxed in a strung-together Ukrainian social kolomeyka was a highlight, but still left something to be desired from this reviewer.
With Footloose appearing after the dance heavy Cats and Hairspray, I craved for more musical sequences to highlight these passionate performers. However, after the final curtain call, there were still whistles to the tune of the title song through Kildonan Park as patrons began to leave in search of their gridlocked cars.
Footloose, presented by Rainbow Stage, 2021 Main St. in Kildonan Park. Showtimes: June 18-July 8, 2012 at 8 pm.
Break out the Walkman and the Kolomeyka
Columns
Footloose presented by Rainbow Stage, Monday June 18, 2012
Reviewed by Stephanie Adamov
The pilgrimage to the iconic Rainbow Stage is a summer tradition for many musical theatre loving families. Savvy Winnipeggers will pack extra blankets, bugspray and seat cushions as they watch aspiring homegrown talent bloom where they are planted at Canada’s largest outdoor theatre.
Sure enough, when dusk darkened to night, those extra blankets Mama told you to bring sure came in handy on a chilly opening night of Footloose. The toe tapping musical tells the story of Ren and his mother Ethel leaving the Windy City for a small southern town where dancing is outlawed. Ren aims to eradicate this legislation with the support of his friend Willard, love interest Ariel, and her dance crazed friends. Ariel happens to be the rigid Reverend Shaw’s daughter. She has a keen eye for danger and trouble as she rebels against her father and rendezvous with dropout and drug dealer Chuck Cranston.
Nearly thirty years since its film debut in 1984, featuring baby-faced Kevin Bacon as Ren and up-and-coming Sarah Jessica Parker as Ariel’s friend Rusty, Footloose reveals that it is a story about severe loss. Reverend Shaw is so overcome by the death of his son that he forbids the use of liquor, drugs, rock music and dancing within the town. Ren is so confused and conflicted about his dad’s abandonment that he too is overflowing with emotion that he keeps concealed. The only catharsis he has is dance. Therefore, he is outraged when he moves to Bomont, and learns that his only means of coping is illegal.
Director Carson Nattrass expressed that Rainbow Stage was also coping with a severe loss. Ken Peter, who was an important creative force in Winnipeg’s musical theatre scene, as well as Footloose choreographer Scott Peter’s father, had both passed away this last December. The community of Rainbow stage banded together to make Ken’s final season a reality.
David Ball grooves with his Walkman as Ren
Walkman loaded, Doug Ball strutted onto the stage as Ren McCormack. Nattrass presented Footloose in keeping with its original setting of the USA in 1984. The show opened with a busy Chicago Street, then transitioned to a quaint rural chapel. The posters of “Scarface” and “Return of the Jedi” were replaced by benches, a lectern and a prominent stained glass window.
Tributes to Say Anything (1989) and Risky Business (1983) were paid homage to during lighting designer Scott Henderson’s fuchsia-tinted strobe light show in “Holding Out for a Hero.” Although the notes were on pitch, the hair was kept pretty flat and more backcombing was needed to present the ultra 80s experience. Small town or not, the 80s feel could have been integrated more throughout the show as well as with Deb Schinkel’s costume design.
In addition to the 80s setting, the distant, secluded southern town concept seemed to have been shouldered by only a handful of characters. Markian Tarasiuk was the ultimate comedic relief as the half wit friend Willard. His romantic partner, Rusty, played by firecracker Stephanie Sy, was explosive and memorable during her multiple solos throughout the show. Sharon Bajer also added some humour as she tackled the confrontational Willard and utterly jealous Chuck, played by Jeremy Walmsley as the matron at the “Burger Blast.” She single handedly stopped the fight but still needed assistance with a single push to get her caboose offstage.
Although presented during a cool Winnipeg evening, much of the sexual heat and profanity was unexpectedly left uncensored for Rainbow Stage. Although this tension remained, surprisingly all the dramatic fight scenes occurred completely off stage.
As rebellious Ren McCormick, David Ball was often lost amongst the chorus during major dance scenes. The angst of his character was often diluted and there was very little chemistry between Ball and Julia McLellan, who played the defiant Ariel.
The ensemble with skipping ropes
Aside from an astounding skip rope sequence with the young ensemble to conclude the first act, the finale, which climaxed in a strung-together Ukrainian social kolomeyka was a highlight, but still left something to be desired from this reviewer.
With Footloose appearing after the dance heavy Cats and Hairspray, I craved for more musical sequences to highlight these passionate performers. However, after the final curtain call, there were still whistles to the tune of the title song through Kildonan Park as patrons began to leave in search of their gridlocked cars.
Footloose, presented by Rainbow Stage, 2021 Main St. in Kildonan Park. Showtimes: June 18-July 8, 2012 at 8 pm.