by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
Miracles still happen. I know because I saw a minor miracle last weekend at the production of Rogers and Hammerstein’s State Fair at Orange Park Community Theatre. Directors Connie Senkowski and Bob Houston managed to put thirty-six (that’s right 36) men, women and children on the tiny stage at the same time and they were all singing, dancing and generally overjoyed to be there.
Orange Park has a David-and-Goliath attitude when it comes to musicals. Nothing is big enough and no challenge is too great. Year after year, this 36-year old community theatre continues to amaze me. I remember Roberta and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Both are difficult shows and both were well done.
State Fair has been around as a movie since l933. It was remade in l945 with the music added. In l996, the stage musical was born. It has been successful because of the Rogers and Hammerstein songs ‘It Might As Well Be Spring,’ ‘Our State Fair,’ ‘That’s for Me’ and ‘It’s a Grand Night for Singing.’ The song, ‘All I Owe Ioway’ was never a hit but should have been; it is lively and a lot of fun.
The title, State Fair, tells it all. Daddy Frake (David Phillips) wants his prize pig to win a the state fair, Mother Frake (Ellen Hare) wants her pickles and mince pie to win, but their two children have romance on thcir minds. Margy (Megan Tebo) rejects the courting by Harry (Daniel Eudy) in favor of the slick newspaper reporter Pat (Joseph Walz). Wayne (Nick Mullins) temporally spurs his beau Eleanor (Jessica Palombo) for the sexy professional singer appearing at the fair, Jeanne (Jessica Palombo!! - ain’t it grand what you can do with wigs and talented actresses?).
Well, that is it and I won’t give away the suspense-filled ending, but you can guess.
Many things occur during while this plot unfolds. Hank (Bob LeSage), Lem (Steve Cohn) and Clay (Wayne Manley) sing ‘More than Just a Friend’ about how much they love their hogs. (This song never made the hit parade.)
Richard Haertel almost steals the show as the mince pie contest judge, who gets drunk on one entry that has been thoroughly laced with brandy. Haertel also doubles back as an unusual police chief.
There is a wonderful fair scene, complete with a shooting gallery, a hoop pitching game, a dancing harem girl (Sara Elizabeth Martel), a clown (Jessica Brown), an Uncle Sam on stilts (T. J. Washburn) and lots of dancers, including Alexandria Brown, Samantha, Erin Gawera, Alexander Loucks, Olivia Loucks, Rebecca Pearson, James Selliti, Jackie Vondette, and Beau Wade.
Andrew Pentecost is in the chorus but also has the dubious honor of playing Blue Boy the prize pig, but I will not reveal how his pulls off this trick.
As you can see, I had quite a time trying to keep track of who was who. Others in the cast in various roles include, Leonard Alterman (who also plays the saxophone in the band), Kayla Kurmaskie, Michele Malinda, Brenna McBroom, Olivia Miller, Alanna Moore, Vick Pentecost, Christina Phillips, William A. Stewart, and Jordan “Dane” Vondette.
I like Brenda Cohn’s approach to musical direction. She usually takes a part in the play, since she is an excellent singer and actress, and she can be right on top of what is happening musically. Gabrielle Verderese and Connie Senkowski created the impressive dance numbers, working wonders on this small stage
The costumes were mostly period western wear circa l946 Kansas, coordinated by Reginia Manning, Mary Ann Barclay and Kathleen Andrzejewski.
The sets were amazing. Merrie Luke led the band on a piano that was tucked away somewhere backstage, and they performed well, never overpowering the performance of the singers.
Kudos as well to Cindy and Mike Ward, who, as producers, saw to it that the bills were paid, and to Jeanne Stratton, the Stage Manager who herded around this cast of thousands.
While the seasoned talent (like Ms. Palombo, and Mr. Waltz) had a great impact on the show, there is some up-and-coming talent that will serve this theatre well in future. You will see a lot of two of the high school students that performed in this production in the coming years. Nick Mullins has a wonderfully developing voice, and his duet ‘So Far’ with Ms. McBroom in Act II is exquisite. Megan Tebo has an excellent, well-trained voice as well and she will be playing many leading ladies in musicals if she so chooses.
Thanks to Barbara Wells, who created the program insert, it is excellent, and everyone in the cast is listed with the role that they play and an individual biography as well.
A final thanks to the Tom Nehl Fund of The Community Foundation for their financial assistance, without them theatre just would not be the same in North Florida.
Orange Park Community Theatre tickets are the hot tickets in town, so call 276-2599 immediately for yours. The show runs the month of June, at 2900 Moody Road in Orange Park.
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