Stage Evaluate: Millennial’s ‘Stranger Sings’ Hits the Key of Enjoyable – Enterprise Journal Every day

by J.E.Ballantyne, Jr.

You’re in all probability conscious of the favored Netflix present, “Stranger Things,”which has garnered appreciable consideration with its ultimate season arriving this month. The Millennial Theatre Company has gotten into the act with a parody musical stage model of the present titled, “Stranger Sings,” which opened on the Youngstown Playhouse on Friday evening.

Being offered within the small Moyer Room, the present transports the viewers again to Hawkins, Ind., circa 1983, similar to the tv sequence. It focuses on the primary season of the sequence when a neighborhood youth named Will Byers disappears. What follows on this Off-Broadway hit are the entire adventures and characters from the sequence which have made it so standard.

The viewers is welcomed actually to the small city with a excessive power opener, “Welcome to Hawkins.” And simply to offer you an concept of the enjoyable this present carries, later in Act II, Ryan Stewart enters singing “Gary, Indiana” from “The Music Man” however substituting Hawkins as an alternative. There are present and ’80s references galore.

This is a robust, gifted solid with many acquainted faces from previous Millennial productions in addition to Playhouse productions. Many within the solid play quite a few roles that come and go so quick that you just virtually want a scorecard.

As they seek for the lacking pal Will, Mike (Ben Doss), Dustin (Ryan Stewart), and Lucas (Gesse Matlock) function the glue that ties the entire present collectively. From their first look, taking part in Dungeons & Dragons, they get stronger and stronger because the present progresses. They present a lot of the comedy, though comedy is the overall menu for all the night.

As talked about earlier, Will has disappeared. But Will is a puppet, expertly operated by his mom, Joyce, performed by Jackie Collins. Collins has an enormous mountain to climb by way of all the present. As nicely as talking and working Will, she additionally performs her personal character – Will’s frantic mom who actually goes loopy in the course of the search. Collins is a powerhouse in each roles. The chain smoking mother (with 3-4 cigarettes in hand always) has over-the-top power and a wild deranged look in her eye particularly throughout her massive quantity, the appropriately titled, “Crazy.”

Collins by no means lets up within the power division. Vocally, she has difficult songs and handles all of them with skilled ease. And so far as the banter between her and Will, she offers any professional a run for his or her cash.

Along the way in which, as they seek for Will, they encounter Nancy and Eleven, each performed by Natalina Kazimir. She is a favourite with Millennial having been in a lot of their productions. The two characters are polar opposites; and Kazimir offers every one 100% dedication. With her belty voice and snappy line supply, she offers each characters a high quality that makes her enjoyable to look at. You might really feel the viewers feeding off of her excessive power.

Nancy’s greatest good friend, Barb, performed by Caitlin Overton, is the one character in
all the present that undergoes an actual change from starting to finish. Early on
she performs Barb as awkward and self-conscious however in the course of the torch music, “Barb’s Turn,” she converts the character into a completely new path. She was an actual audi- ence pleaser together with her Act II quantity getting a roar from the viewers.

I had not seen Joshua Fleming on stage in fairly a number of years, however in his function as Sheriff Jim Hopper, he makes it clear how a lot he has developed as an actor. He offers a robust, assured efficiency and has a knack for comedy, even comedy that may be a bit underplayed in some circumstances, which labored very nicely. He brings a maturity to the function as Hopper with an in any other case youthful solid.

Edward Bazzell does double responsibility as Steve and Jonathan. Again each roles are completely completely different however Bazzell units every one aside and sells each of them with skilled aptitude. He appeared exceptionally comfy in each, which helped to see every one as if separate actors have been doing the roles.

Jaye Mills makes a few brief appearances as Dr. Brenner, a mad scientist and appropriately overacts every scene to the delight of the opening evening viewers. He offers the function simply the suitable loopy, cartoonish character that matches proper in with the proceedings. And talking of overacting, Ty Hanes does an important job because the Demogorgon, a creature-like character with out spoken traces. But Hanes didn’t want any.

Even the ensemble on this manufacturing hits excessive marks. They have been all entrance and heart every time they made an look and their power and sharp strikes have been heading in the right direction with everybody else. They supplied a robust complement to the main roles, serving to so as to add to their character improvement. Kali Davies-Anderson stood out within the ensemble. This is to not say that the remainder didn’t measure as much as her, however her power, focus and stage presence actually set her aside. She was the main target every time she made an entrance, together with in her small function as Mr. Clarke.

Playing one function on this present is exhaustive however when taking part in quite a few roles it will possibly drain an actor shortly. That didn’t occur. Costume adjustments have been quick with generally just some traces earlier than an actor was again on stage as a special character. All dealt with that easily.

The music, by Jonathan Hogue, is campy, very upbeat, and demanding. The solid minimize by way of any problem with ease.

Set design by Joe Asente, who additionally directed, is brilliant and consists of all the things from a ton of Christmas lights, to a transistor radio, a Muppets calendar, an outdated ’80s wall cellphone, and a ton of little enjoyable gadgets that make it enjoyable to only sit and scan the set throughout intermission.

Choreography by Danielle Mentzer is snappy, energetic, unique and fast-paced. Costume design by Ty Hanes and Daniel Chiaberta borrowed a bit from the unique manufacturing but additionally confirmed a number of creativity and flash. Again, with the quick adjustments they needed to be straightforward to take away and fast to placed on. Great work in all areas.

Joe Asente hits the mark once more with this Millennial manufacturing. A clear, contemporary, slick skilled manufacturing in all areas. If you’re on the lookout for one thing just a little completely different and with loads of laughs and nice music, this campy little present ought to match the invoice.

“Stranger Sings” will proceed Nov. 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 9, 16 and 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Pictured at prime: Ben Doss, Gesse Matlock and Ryan Stewart star in Millennial Theatre’s manufacturing of “Stranger Sings.”

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