Songs for a New World
July 26, 2011
Musical Director: Evan Smith
Stage Director: Keith Pike
Cast: Mark Allan, Iain Stewart, Nicole Power, Cara Pantalone
Band: Roy Berti, Evan Smith, Bill Simms, Gavin Tucker
Stephenville Theatre Festival’s feature musical this summer, “Songs for a New World,” tells several stories about pivotal moments in people’s lives.
The production consists of a series of songs performed during two acts. Each song is a narrative onto itself, with the performers taking on different personas for each song/storyline they present. Think of it as something like the “Carol Burnett Show,” but entirely set to music.
Cara Pantalone gives some of the show’s more humorous performances and handles each with gusto. “Just One Step” and “Surabaya Santa” are witty, especially the latter in which her character takes on a Marlene Dietrich-type persona. Pantalone also does well with more sombre numbers. Of note is “The Flagmaker, 1775,” which deals with a woman whose loved one is fighting in a war.
Nicole Power shines in more sensitive roles – as a young woman in “I’m Not Afraid of Anything” and an expectant mother in “Christmas Lullaby.” Power throws out a lot of emotion in each of her performances.
Mark Allan has a definite stage presence and is convincing in his differing roles. “The Steam Train” is perhaps the most pop music-sounding performance in the show, but Allan deftly brings out the song’s darker undertones.
Iain Stewart seems much at ease on stage, and brings a goofy and likeable charisma to his roles. He’s engaging in “She Cries” and has a glistening chemistry with Power in the duet, “I’d Give it All for You.”
Director Keith Pike keeps the show fresh by having the performers constantly moving or positioning them to one side of the stage – the audience’s eyes never fixated on one spot for very long.
Backing up the performers is the STF band, who are to be commended for making the show all the more lively and entertaining. Having them positioned away from the audience and swathed in black means you won’t see much of them, but their presence is definitely felt.
And that touches on the sole quibble with this production. The show is rather loud for the intimate Stage II venue at the Arts and Culture Centre.
One would think the performers have the ability to project to the back of a large auditorium – but with these people a mere five or six feet away from the front row and a few yards from the back, it seems somewhat overbearing to have them wear headsets. The performers might have sounded better if there was more of a cabaret-style presentation.
Overall, “Songs for a New World” provides for a satisfying evening of entertainment for those who enjoy musical theatre. The show runs again Aug. 5, 9 and 11.
