By Mark A. Nobles/Special to the Times-Review
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“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” is set in the Oregon wilderness of the 1850s, a difficult time and place to carve out a life and afforded little time to dilly dally. The play picks up this cue and hits the ground running from the opening sequence.
Directed by JaceSon and Tina Barrus and choreographed by the always-kinetic Michael Sylvester, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” is a raucous, rowdy musical that barely ever stops to take a breath.
No-nonsense frontiersman Adam Pontipee goes to town one spring to purchase supplies, the most important being a bride. He meets Milly, whom he marries after a brief courtship of only a few minutes. Upon returning to their cabin in the mountains, Milly is surprised to learn her groom is one of seven lumberjack brothers all living together. The brothers have been named alphabetically from the Old Testament: Adam, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim, Frank (short for Frankincense, the Old Testament having no names beginning with F) and Gideon.
Milly plans to civilize and marry off her six rowdy brothers-in-law to ensure the success of her own marriage. Old habits are hard to break, however, as the brothers kidnap six women from a neighboring town to be their brides.
Plaza veteran Michael Sisemore plays Pontipee. His confident stage presence and strong voice fit the role like a glove.
Amanda Stevens, a newcomer to the Plaza stage, tackles the role of Milly. Stevens is head strong and beguiling in her role but lacks the vocal range to totally captivate.
Standouts from the strong cast include Tyler Martin as Caleb, Daniel Scott Robinson as Benjamin and Danielle Beacham as Ruth. Martin is consistently hilarious and manages to display high energy without over acting. Robinson under plays his character, but it pays to keep your eyes on him no matter who else is on the stage. Beacham is a rare actress possessing a wide emotional range and impeccable comic timing.
Any Plaza patron who has caught her previous performances in “Steel Magnolias” or “Sanders Family Christmas” already is aware of her talent.
“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” is the latest addition in a growing number of energetic, entertaining musical spectacles mounted by Plaza. For a young theater group occupying a small space, few can match their ability to stage such wondrous, toe-tapping spectaculars.
“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” runs through May 29. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, with two performances Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For information, call 817-202-0600 or visit www.plaza-theatre.com.
