Newspaper Page Text
1*4
mm
III UEMBERII III WEDDING
Contrary to popular belief, theater critics do not love saying bad
things, particularly when the group producing the show is
Marietta’s Theatre in the Square, which we all know has had its
share of difficulties Lhis year.
But putting its political troubles aside and examining the
debut of its 11th season—a home-grown musical version of
Carson McCullers’ “The Member of the Wedding”—one must
conclude that the show is one of Theatre in the Square’s biggest
stumbles.
It can be argued McCullers’ painfully intimate story of awk
ward adolescent Frankie Addams (Susie Grimley) is ripe mate
rial for turning into a musical. Much of the writing is lyrical, with
an internal rhythm which is almost melodic. Unfortunately, this
lyrical writing has lulled the adapters at Theatre in the Square to
be lazy. They’ve relied more on the original script and less on
their own imaginations. Yes, they’ve attempted to turn some
passages into songs, but they have failed to attack the real prob
lem of how to turn a nearly perfect play into a credible musical.
There is more involved in turning a play into a musical than
writing 17 songs and shoehoming them into existing dialogue.
There needs to be a musical reason for doing this—in other
words, using music to enhance, develop, advance or
reconceptualize story elements where words alone would not
suffice. This could be as simple as writing songs which use a
period sound (“The Member of the Wedding” is set in August
1945, though the adaptors ignore this fact musically, while a
show like “Grease” is the epitome of a period sound musical), or
as complex as using a certain sound to carry an entire show (an
example being Stephen Sondheim’s use of the “Dies Irae” to
create the funereal-like sound for the score of “Sweeney Todd”).
There is a glaring error in Carson McCullers’ original script
which has always been a problem when this play is staged. The
The cast of Theater in the Square’s “The Member of the
Wedding,” which plays through Oct. 30.
crucial moment of the show—when Frankie climbs into the car
to join her brother and his new bride in their new life—takes
place off stage; it is merely described to us by young John Henry
(Noah Steinberg). While it is a dramatic moment in the show, it
is one that has always felt hollow. We need to see it rather than
having it told to us. The movie version with Julie Harris and
Ethel Waters corrected this problem. The musical in Marietta
does not. Instead, at a moment when a song is most definitely
needed, the musical relies on McCullers’ flawed script verbatim.
Yet, this is not the worst problem inherent in the show. No,
that comes later in Act Two, when Honey Camden Brown (Frank
Wright) comes to his sister Berenice (CeCelia Birt) desperate for
money because the police arc after him. She quickly gives him
what he needs. Does he then run away because the police are
after him? Of course not. He stands around, sings a very long
song, then finally departs. One would be hard pressed to remem
ber a situation where a song was less necessary than at that
moment.
The most ironic part of “The Member of the Wedding” at
Theatre in the Square is that dircctor/adaptcr Michael Home has
assembled a very talented cast, which proceeds to do great
justice to the original play. Because almost all of McCullers’
script is left intact, we can sec a very touching, moving produc
tion of the play. What is unfortunate is that the play slops 17
times to allow for these superfluous songs. When this show
doesn’t have to sing, Home moves it with grace and style. But
whenever there’s a song, his staging suddenly turns clumsy.
If the score by Ellen McQueen and Frank Hamilton had been
the least bit interesting or competent, it still would not solve the
inherent problems with this adaptation. However, their lyrics tire
banal, trite and not interesting in the least. Their music is charac
terless and bland, with no period sound, no overriding musical
theme or any musical purpose to il whatsoever. And the worst sin
of all is that the play’s musical director, Erik Bennett, has orches
trated “The Member of the Wedding” with heavy reliance on a
synthesizer. There were no synthesizers in 1945, and there is no
justification for using one in a show set in that time period. It
made the entire show sound so out of whack as to render the
songs even more inappropriate than they already were.
It is up to two actresses to successfully carry off any produc
tion of “The Member of the Wedding.” Susie Grimley’s Frankie
is wildly hyperactive and gangly, wonderfully playful and essen
tially goodhearted. She’s at her best in the book scenes, but she is
at sea when she has to sing. CeCelia Birt is commanding as
Berenice. She manages to deftly convey the world-weary nature
of their character, and she even transcends the weak material
she’s given and makes her songs soar.
There’s a very good production of “The Member of the
Wedding” lurking underneath the musical miasma playing at
Theatre in the Square. If you’ve always loved the play or movie,
it’s still worth seeing it live on stage. Just ignore the show when
it stops for a song break.
MICHAEL KAPE
BANNER’S
tmm
CORNER
Banner Ford’s bargain corner
OFFERS FINANCING ON FINE
QUALITY USED AUTOMOBILES.
w
2788 LawrenceviUe Highway
Decatur, GA 30083
(404) 9384)557
hen was the last time you were
able to get your car repaired on a
Saturday?
Banner’s Bargain Comer offers
excellent, qualified service on most
makes and models.
Sales and service department
available 6 days a week,
Monday through Saturday
Call Scott Gimefor assistance.
W v appreciate your busiiM'ss
Malepak
CATALOG
CLEARANCE
SALE many items
% OFF
Sale ends Oct 30th
Need something
special to wear
Halloween? Check us out!
SUN-TUES
WED-SAT
1
11
P.M.-6
A.M.-7
2000 CHESHIRE BRIDGE RD.
PRIDE OF DIXIE
ANTIQUES
October 22, 23 & 24
The Finest Monthly
Antique Market in America
North Atlanta Trade Center, Norcross, Georgia
Over 800 Booths with
Quality Antiques and Old Collectibles
HOURS: Friday & Saturday 9am-6pm
and Sunday 10am-5pm Admission $3.00
Free Parking. All Indoors.
1-85 to Exit 38. Turn East on Indian Trial.
Turn Right on Oakbrook Pkwy
Turn right on Jcurgcns Cl.
* SI.00 OFF WITH THIS AD
ANTIQUE MARKET