Foot stompin', high kickin' 7 Brides
wins over Sacramento audience
Reviewed by Joe Blenkle/Sacramento Stage & Theatre
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS starring Joseph Mahowald and Rachel de Benedet, is Music Circus' sixth offering of the season. SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS plays under the tent, Aug. 17-23, 1998.

Joseph Mahowald as Adam and Rachel de Benedet as Milly in a scene from Sacramento Music Circus' production of SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS playing under the tent, Aug. 17-23, 1998.

    You pretty much know you have it made when the audience gives you a standing ovation before Act I is even over.
    Such was the case for opening night of Music Circus' sixth production of the season, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS.
    This was the third time I have seen SEVEN BRIDES at the Music Circus and this production was by far the most enjoyable.
    The show was last presented in 1993 but this year's SEVEN BRIDES seemed to have more zip and vigor largely due, I think, to the members of the ensemble cast who portrayed The Pontipee Brothers and The Brides.
    The Brides, of course, didn't have quite as much dancing to do, but the ensemble of Palmer Davis, Amanda Lusk, Valerie Jane Smith, Sunny Staton, Erin Swanson and Carolyn Ockert added both beauty and grace to the stage, while their counterparts - Richard Bulda, Rome Saladino, Matt Loehr, Jared Nelson, K.C. Gussler and Danny Bergold brought down the house in the Social Dance in Scene 7, Act I.
    In the six years I have been a regular theater-goer, I have never seen the crowd rise like it did after the dancers had whirled and twirled through the Social Dance.
    It was another night of magic like you so often find at the Music Circus.
    SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, of course, is the tale of The Pontipee Brothers and their search for love and happiness in the wilderness of Oregon. Seven brothers living together under one roof can create quite a mess, so the younger six finally persuade the eldest - Adam (Joseph Mahowald) - that he should take a wife, so while in town trading for supplies, he decides to see if he can trade for a wife, as well.
    Unfortunately, things don't work that way - even in the West and wilderness of Oregon - but he soon spies a likely wife in the local restaurant. Milly (Rachel de Benedet) is swept off her feet by this mountain man and agrees to marry him on the spot.
    She soon discovers, however, that she has not only gained a husband, but six brothers to cook and clean for.
    Milly soon takes over, teaching the brothers etiquette and turning the "mountain men" into gentlemen, who suddenly decide that they too should have wives.
    Their solution? Kidnap the girls in town and bring them back to their mountain cabin 12 miles away.
CAST:
  Adam - Joseph Mahowald
  Milly - Rachel de Benedet
  THE PONTIPEE BROTHERS
  Benjamin - Richard Bulda
  Caleb - Rome Saladino
  Daniel - Matt Loehr
  Ephraim - Jared Nelson
  Frank - K.C. Gussler
  Gideon - Danny Bergold
  THE BRIDES
  Dorcas - Palmer Davis
  Ruth - Amanda Lusk
  Liza - Valerie Jane Smith
  Martha - Sunny Staton
  Sarah - Erin Swanson
  Alice - Carolyn Ockert
  THE SUITORS
  Carl - Gregory Daniels
  Luke - Romar De Claro
  Matt - Glenn Shiroma
  Joel - Kevin Hawke
  Zeke - Orlando Alexander
  Jeb - Harry Nelson
 
    SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS has been done to death, with the same theme appearing on stage, in films and on TV. But the well-worn classic survives, particularly on stage with its high kickin' dancing, pretty girls, handsome men, and fair share of catchy tunes, including "Bless Your Beautiful Hide," "Goin' Courtin'" and "We've Gotta Make It Through The Winter."
    Joseph Mahowald returns to the tent in the role of Adam, the eldest of the Pontipee Brothers. He was last seen in 1993 in Music Circus' production of SOUTH PACIFIC, in which he played Lt. Cable.
    Mahowald has appeared on Broadway as the student leader in LES MISERABLES and is one of the voices in Disney's recent animated release, MULAN.
    He played a great ADAM in SEVEN BRIDES, hopefully making it safely through the entire seven-show run. Late in the production on opening night, he came flying down the ramp for a leap over the crouching townsfolk and didn't quite make it. Ah, live theatre!
    Mahowald has a great voice and sounded terrific in all his songs and hopefully will return next season to please the Sacramento crowd.
    Rachel de Benedet continues to wow the Music Circus audience with her great singing. She appeared earlier this season as Fraulein Kost in CABARET and played a perfect, headstrong, independent and smart Milly in SEVEN BRIDES.
    Rachel has previously appeared at the Music Circus as Lois/Bianca in KISS ME KATE and first visited Sacramento as Lady Jacquie in ME AND MY GIRL.
    SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS continues under the Music Circus tent through Sunday, Aug. 23 and is followed by the final production of the 1998 season, SOUTH PACIFIC, starring Susan Egan (Nellie Forbush), Vernon Hartman (Emile de Becque) and Gary Beach (Luther Billis), all of whom reprise their roles from the 1993 Music Circus production.
    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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