Brigadoon (Review)

Brigadoon (Review) Brigadoon weaves its mystical magic
over Sacramento Music Circus audience
Reviewed by Joe Blenkle/Sacramento Stage & Theatre

BRIGADOON starring Michael Piontek and Sarah Tattersall, is Music Circus' fifth offering of the season. BRIGADOON plays under the tent, Aug. 10-16.

Michael Piontek, as Tommy Albright, and Sarah Tattersall, as Fiona MacLaren, in a scene from Sacramento Music Circus' production of BRIGADOON.

    Opening night for Sacramento Music Circus' production of BRIGADOON was indeed magical, as the center stage under the tent was transformed - if only in your imagination - into the Highlands of Scotland.
    The bad thing about BRIGADOON is that the magic seemed to last only a fleeting moment. It was over all too quickly and the audience was forced to return to Sacramento and another hot summer night.
    The good thing about BRIGADOON is that it indeed did suspend belief and treated Sacramento to the simplistic story of a magical village that appears once every hundred years.
    The charm of BRIGADOON is that the story is so simple. It's one of love winning out over everything else. It's easy to understand and proceeds at such a leisurely pace that you soon forget you are watching a musical and instead are right there in the village - a participant in what is happening in the story.

John Scherer, as Charlie Dalrymple, and Robyn Cohen, as Jean MacLaren, in Music Circus' production of BRIGADOON.

    Michael Piontek stars as Tommy Albright, an American, who along with his friend Jeff Douglas (Stephen Berger), are on a hunting expedition in the Highlands of Scotland. Lost in the woods, they stumble across a village not found on their map.
    The village seems a little out of time - and for good reason. They soon learn that for every day that passes in the village, 100 years pass in the outside world. When the villagers go to sleep at night, their little village disappears into the mists, not to reappear for another century.
    This, of course, creates some complications for Tommy. He has fallen in love with Fiona MacLaren (Sarah Tattersall), and struggles with whether to stay in the village or return to the outside world with Jeff.
    Unsure of how true his love is, Tommy returns to New York, but can never get the memory of Brigadoon and Fiona out of his mind. Finally, faced with marriage to a girl he really doesn't love, he talks Jeff into returning to Scotland with him to search out the site of the magical village.
    Tommy and Jeff find the location and as Tommy longingly thinks what his life might have been like with Fiona, his love wakes the village from its hundred year slumber and he finds his true love once again.
    BRIGADOON is a magical delight to watch and listen to. The Lerner and Loewe musical has some lovely songs and music and Sarah Tattersall is always a delight for the Music Circus crowd.

CAST:   Tommy Albright - Michael Piontek
  Jeff Douglas - Stephen Berger
  Angus MacGuffie - Britt Gunter
  Archie Beaton - Bob Lauder, Jr.
  Sandy Dean - N. Cameron Doyel
  Stuart Dalrymple - Clark Kelso
  Maggie Anderson - Bridget Baker
  Meg Brockie - Leah Hocking
  Harry Beaton - Bob Richard
  Andrew MacLaren - Richard G.
    Rodgers
  Fiona MacLaren - Sarah Tattersall
  Jean MacLaren - Robyn Cohen
  Charlie Dalrymple - John Scherer
  Mr. Lundie - John Z. Ickes
  Samuel Beaton - Kurt Johnson
  Bagpiper - Liz Steuber
  Drummer - J.J. McClatchy
  Frank - Kurt Johnson
  Jane Ashton - Amy Michoski

    Michael Piontek appears under the Sacramento tent for the first time after stints on Broadway and various regional theatre groups. He starred as the Prince/Wolf in INTO THE WOODS on Broadway and as the Beast in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in Los Angeles. He seemed right at home in the role of Tommy, interacting well with Stephen Berger as the pair interjected a carefree and humorous feeling into their roles.
    Berger was last seen in Sacramento playing Boris in the 1997 production of CAN-CAN and has had numerous appearances both on and off Broadway.
    Some of the funnier scenes in the show involved Berger and Leah Hocking (Meg Brockie). Meg isn't very lucky in love and will do anything to catch a man - as poor Jeff Douglas finds out!
    Sarah Tattersall has become a favorite performer under the tent. The Sacramento crowd has absolutely adored her in recent productions of MY FAIR LADY and KISS ME, KATE. Her lovely voice carries a sweet and caring quality that you could listen to all night long.
    This is Sarah's ninth season under the tent and she has appeared in 21 different shows - hopefully she will be back again next season, giving Sacramento something to look forward to in 1999.
    As always, the Circus' ensemble cast did an excellent job. It's amazing how they can top themselves week after week!
    BRIGADOON continues under the Music Circus tent through Sunday, Aug. 16 and is followed by SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, Aug. 17-23.
    Performances are at 8 p.m. through Saturday and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are priced at $22 to $40 depending on time and seat location and are on sale at the Music Circus box office, 1419 H Street or by phone at (916) 557-1999. Tickets may also be purchased at all BASS Ticket outlets (916) 923-BASS.

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