That's right--we've got enough time to do more. than. one. read-through.
It's an odd feeling to have so much time to work on one show. Especially since we only had about 18 rehearsal spots for Lungfish.
The review from Andrews Brothers came out yesterday: I'm very proud of how it turned out. No mention of choreography, but I'm fine with that. A few audience members have mentioned it on their way out of the theater. It's such a delight to watch them leave. Seeing so many smiling faces reminds me why I want to stay in this business for as long as I can.
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Joyous ‘Andrews Brothers’ can’t be missed
By Andrew Tallackson
Staff Writer
MICHIGAN CITY — “The Andrews Brothers” is pure joy. It produces big, hearty laughs, but it’s not smutty. There is a sweetness, an innocence to it that’s refreshing.
The play hails from creator Roger Bean, no stranger to Canterbury Summer Theatre since its ensemble performed his “The Marvelous Wondrettes” last summer. The two works are similar in structure, using a bare-bones story as an excuse to sing classic oldies. But I actually prefer “The Andrews Brothers” over “The Marvelous Wondrettes” because it’s more upbeat, and the sense of nostalgia rings true.
Unfolding in March 1945 on an island in the South Pacific, “The Andrews Brothers” finds three stagehands involved in last-minute preparations for a USO performance that night by The Andrews Sisters. It just so happens, as it always just so happens in musicals, the brothers have the last name of Andrews: Patrick (Daniel Whitaker), Max (Shane Miller) and Lawrence (Matthew Carroll). They’d like to be performers, not stagehands, and they pass themselves off as USO talent to the lovely Peggy Jones (Asha Stichter), who is set to perform that night. When the Andrews Sisters cancel their show shortly before it begins, and Peggy learns the truth about the brothers, she coaxes them into appearing in drag as the Andrews Sisters and joining her on stage.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Guys in drag? That’s been done 8 million times before. But what’s interesting about “The Andrews Brothers” is how Whitaker, Miller and Carroll don’t camp it up, as if they know they’re being funny. They play the roles as guys forced into drag, but still trying to behave as guys. That’s why you accidentally see them still wearing boxer shorts, or one of them repeatedly, shall we say, “adjusting” himself?
The play hails from creator Roger Bean, no stranger to Canterbury Summer Theatre since its ensemble performed his “The Marvelous Wondrettes” last summer. The two works are similar in structure, using a bare-bones story as an excuse to sing classic oldies. But I actually prefer “The Andrews Brothers” over “The Marvelous Wondrettes” because it’s more upbeat, and the sense of nostalgia rings true.
Unfolding in March 1945 on an island in the South Pacific, “The Andrews Brothers” finds three stagehands involved in last-minute preparations for a USO performance that night by The Andrews Sisters. It just so happens, as it always just so happens in musicals, the brothers have the last name of Andrews: Patrick (Daniel Whitaker), Max (Shane Miller) and Lawrence (Matthew Carroll). They’d like to be performers, not stagehands, and they pass themselves off as USO talent to the lovely Peggy Jones (Asha Stichter), who is set to perform that night. When the Andrews Sisters cancel their show shortly before it begins, and Peggy learns the truth about the brothers, she coaxes them into appearing in drag as the Andrews Sisters and joining her on stage.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Guys in drag? That’s been done 8 million times before. But what’s interesting about “The Andrews Brothers” is how Whitaker, Miller and Carroll don’t camp it up, as if they know they’re being funny. They play the roles as guys forced into drag, but still trying to behave as guys. That’s why you accidentally see them still wearing boxer shorts, or one of them repeatedly, shall we say, “adjusting” himself?
For Whitaker, Miller and Carroll – their harmonies, by the way, are killer – this is the most relaxed we’ve seen them on stage. Miller, during the “Hula-Wana-Hini Medley,” just goes nuts with how he moves his body. When Lawrence is forced to remove his glasses during the actual show, the dazed look on Carroll’s face is laugh-out-loud funny. When an audience member pulled on stage got a little frisky with Whitaker in drag, the actor’s deft ability to go with the flow, to gingerly smack the audience member, resulted in everyone in the theater losing it with laughter.
And then there’s Stichter. Every Canterbury ensemble has performers you hope move on to greatness. That is my wish for Stichter. With a smile that lights up the stage, a wonderfully throaty voice and moves that ideally recall a 1940s USO performer, the actress is perfection.
“The Andrews Brothers,” unlike most Canterbury musicals, will have a three-week run at Mainstreet Theatre. Let’s hope audiences take the opportunity to experience it. It’s wonderful.
Contact Andrew Tallackson at atallackson@thenewsdispatch.com.
In other news: I found the cutest bistro a few minutes away from the theatre today. Had myself a portabella sandwich that was to DIE for. I'm definitely going back there soon.
And in other other news, I drove to Valparaiso, IN the other night with a friend to go see Super 8. Neither one of us had been to a drive in before, so it was a really cool experience. We got ice-cream, tuned my car radio in, and had a relaxing night!
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