Parris and Phelan are part of a five-person cast that works and harmonizes beautifully together. One of my favorites: As actresses Mamie Parris and Diane Phelan sing “Stepsisters’ Lament” from “Cinderella,” with lyrics about “Why would a fellow want a girl like her? A frail and fluffy beauty? Why can’t a fellow ever once prefer a solid girl like me?,” they stare ruefully at their cell phones, and you can imagine their words are sparked by images they see on social media or dating sites. The staging is clever, too.That’s not a surprise, considering the production is directed by Rob Ruggiero, whose work at Goodspeed has always been inspired. The way they are doing the songs occasionally hews close to tradition (the lovely “Some Enchanted Evening,” for instance) but more often reimagines them in a slightly new way, without losing the melody that made them so memorable to begin with (“Shall We Dance” get a jazzy take). “A Grand Night” is decidedly not a staid regurgitation of R&H numbers - far from it. The show is a revue featuring the music of the legendary team of Rodgers & Hammerstein, titled “A Grand Night for Singing: A Celebration of Rodgers & Hammerstein.” (It replaced Goodspeed’s originally planned Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific,” which was too big of a production to stage at this point in the pandemic.) That might be the best review a production could get. If my visit on Wednesday was any indication, fans are overjoyed to be back.Īn example: During intermission, a woman approached a Goodspeed employee and said, with barely contained glee, that she loved the show it made her happy at a time when there’s not much to be chipper about. There we were, back nestled inside the ornate auditorium of the Goodspeed Opera House, as talented actors sang buoyant, melodious showtunes onstage.įor 21 months, the theater in East Haddam was closed to audiences because of COVID. How is Goodspeed's first show in the Opera House since the pandemic began?
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