The Most Happy Fella

The Most Happy Fella Most Happy Fella puts smiles
on Sacramento Music Circus crowd
Reviewed by Joe Blenkle/Sacramento Stage & Theatre

Marie (Suzanna Guzman) disapproves of the May-December romance of her brother Tony (Charles Karel) and his young wife Rosabella (Karen Culliver) in a scene from the Music Circus production of THE MOST HAPPY FELLA running July 19-25.

    THE MOST HAPPY FELLA is one of those pleasant surprises that comes to the Music Circus tent every so often. It's a simple love story - with a few strange twists - but shows that love can win out in the end no matter what the obstacles.

    THE MOST HAPPY FELLA is set in California's Napa Valley in the late 1920s. An aging Italian grape grower named Tony has his eye on a young waitress who served him in a restaurant in San Francisco. He leaves her a note professing his love for her and an expensive tie pin as a gift. Not knowing her real name, he calls her "Rosabella" and asks her to write to him.
    The waitress - Amy - is touched by the letter and decides to write back to him. The two begin corresponding on a regular basis and after Amy sends Tony her picture, she asks for one in return.

"MOST HAPPY FELLA" CAST   The Cashier - Scott K. Ivey
  Cleo - Leah Hocking
  Rosabella/Amy - Karen Culliver
  The Postman - Michael Dotson
  Tony - Charles Karel
  Herman - John Scherer
  Max - Michael Susko
  Al - Ben Johns
  Marie - Suzanna Guzman
  Joe - Sal Viviano
  Pasquale - Scott K. Ivey
  Ciccio - Paul Woodson
  Giuseppe - Mark Sanders
  The Priest - Peter Betancourt
  Little girl - Chelsea J. Wilson
  Little Boy - Scott Suwabe
  The Doctor - Clark Kelso
THE PEOPLE OF SAN FRANCISCO
AND THE NAPA VALLEY
  Stacy Brush, Michael Dotson, Cristin J. Hubbard, Helena Hultberg, Scott K. Ivey, Ben Johns, Stephanie Lynge, Christy Morton, Mark Sanders, Stephany R. Simonelli, Michael Susko, Paul Woodson.

    Tony is thrilled to have "Rosabella's" picture, but is afraid to send her his picture. Instead, he sends a picture of his young, handsome, ranch foreman Joe. Rosabella agrees to marry Tony and when she arrives in town, she meets Joe - thinking it is Tony. When she finally finds out the truth, she is ready to leave, but Tony has been in a car accident and is seriously hurt. Amy consents to marry him out of pity, but after the wedding, her and Joe are drawn together for a night of romance.
    "Rosabella" eventually comes to learn the kind, caring man that Tony is - and falls in love with him. But Tony realizes that he can't give her what a younger man can and treats her more as a daughter than a wife.

    After Tony learns Rosabella is going to have Joe's child, Tony orders her away, but that only makes him realize that he really does love her and there can be a happy ending despite their vast age difference.

    Charles Karel and Karen Culliver, who play Tony and Rosabella, did a fantastic job in this Frank Loesser musical that was last seen in Sacramento 37 years ago. Karel's experience at the Metropolitan Opera showed through with his booming singing voice and he seemed to be right at home in the role of the aging grape grower who has lost his heart to a younger woman (This is Karel's fourth time playing the role). Karel appeared in the original Broadway version of HELLO DOLLY! with Carol Channing and has a diverse background with appearances in film and television in addition to the stage, where he began his career in 1956 with the Music Circus.
    Culliver was absolutely delightful in the role of Amy/Rosabella. She's no stranger to the Music Circus stage, having appeared in both SHOW BOAT and THE SECRET GARDEN in 1994. She's also played the role of Christine in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on and off for almost 10 years, including stints on Broadway.
    Sal Viviano returns to Music Circus in the role of Joe. Viviano has appeared in several other tent productions, including KISMET and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE in recent years. He's one of the Music Circus' "hunks" and is a crowd favorite with the female members of the audience.
    Leah Hocking and John Scherer playing the starry-eyed lovers from Texas - Cleo and Herman - were one of the pleasant surprises in this show. They pretty much stole the show when they were on stage together. Cleo's less than subtle romantic advances toward the somewhat-dense-romantically Herman were a hoot to watch all night.

    THE MOST HAPPY FELLA was a real treat to see. If you haven't caught it yet, rush right out and catch it before it leaves town on Sunday.

    THE MOST HAPPY FELLA plays at the Music Circus through Sunday, July 25, 1999. Tickets range in price from $23-$40. For ticket information call (916) 557-1999, or BASS Tickets at (916) 923-BASS.
    Next up for the Music Circus is BYE, BYE BIRDIE, playing July 26-Aug. 1, 1999.

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