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A CurtainUp Review
The Anthem
By Miriam Colin
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Free of ambition / Just sequins and submission.— from a lyric summarizing The Grid's mantra.
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Scene from Anthem, the sci-fi musical
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Yet, my coolness vis-a-vis all things Ann Rand turned to curiosity by what seems to be the theater world's sudden renewed interest in that more obscure novella. And so when Curtainup's editor asked me if I'd like to follow up on last year's review of a more straightforward adaptation (Review of the play ) and check out the world premiere of Anthem, the sci-fi musical, curiosity got the best of me.
I can't say the two and a half hours I spent at the Lynn Redgrave Theatre were a total waste, but neither did Gary Morgenstein's libretto inspire me to rush home to get a reading copy of Rand's book. It's a story with all the originality of countless second tier movies and self-published books about an inevitably awful world. However, Morgenstern hasn't made a theatrical silk purse out of this all too familiar, tacky tale. Nor is the music by composer Jonnie Rockwell and lyricist Erik Ransom any less mundane.
What retrieves Anthem, the musical, from being hopelessly tedious is the work done by Rachel Klein. The multi-talented Klein has made this unexceptional addition to the musical theater visually lively with her peppy choreography, apt costumes and direction of the energetic and committed cast. She has managed to turn Rand's ham-fisted, polemical fiction into a high energy theatrical enterprise. In their glittery silver outfits, the cast members dance around the stage like so many unarmored tin knights with Rand's "rulers" in pitch black. There are also some mighty impressive acrobatics.
Here's wishing Ms. Klein better source material to work with in future.
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Anthem, a sci-fi musical Book by Gary Morgenstein, inspired by Ayn Rand novella Music by Jonnie Rockwell and lyrics by Erik Ransom Direction, Choreography and Costumes by Rachel Klein Cast: Jason Gotay, Remy Zaken Randy Jones Ashley Kate Adams, Jenna Leigh Green, Damia,n Thompson, Emily S. Grosland, Patch David, Shiloh Goodin, Jamyl Dobson, Katie Lee Hill, Crista Marie Jackson, Brian Ferree Set: Robert Andrew Kovach Lighting: Kryssy Wright Running Time: Approx 21/2 hours Culture Project's Lynn Redgrave Theatre From 5/20/14; opening 5/29/14; closing 7/06/14--closed unexpectedly 6/22/14 Reviewed by Miriam Colin 5/30/14 |
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Book of Mormon -CD