ENCINAL PERFORMS FOOTLOOSE
FOOTLOOSE
Reviewed by Jeffrey R Smith of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle
A musical is ideally suited to a high school cast when it is an archetypal tale of teenage rock rebellion and it provides the most opportunities to greatest number students to showcase their respective stage talents. FOOTLOOSE provides exactly these opportunities and the cast of Encinal students more than lives up to challenges presented by the well crafted script, the bubbly musical score and the strenuous choreography.
This musical is set in what used to be called the Bible-Belt and is now called a Red State. A Red State, by definition, is any state where the number of registered Republicans exceeds the number of people who can either: read, eat with silverware, drink beer from a glass or believe in evolution.
As with any small town in the Bible-Belt, some covert variant of the Baptist church emerges and ultimately scores a decisive victory in the battle between hypocrisy and the coalition forces of liberalism, secular humanism, women's rights and the Democratic Party. Like any well intentioned Ayatollah or Mullah the good pastor in this story, Reverend Moore (played by the seasoned thespian Cory Kahane) just wants to dry up all the Dionysian sources of fun including, or we should say especially, dancing. Reverend Moore has firmly established a theocracy and stanched "the proliferation" of "obscene rock and roll music, with its gospel of easy sexuality and relaxed morality."
But the Reverend's Pyrrhic victory over the forces of revelry, adolescent hormones and hedonism is living on borrowed time once the hip sophisticated cosmopolitan: Ren McCormick (played by Ian Merrifield) rolls into town from decadent Chicago. As with nearly every show produced at Encinal in the last three years Ian Merrifield continues to be the star and he continues to be Encinal's best candidate for eventually winning a Grammy, a Tony, an Oscar or an Emmy. His critics, if he has any, might argue that he is a young man whose confidence on stage borders on hubris. His many fans would counter that Ian Merrifield is Encinal's home-grown version of David Bowie: he sings wonderfully, he acts convincingly, he dances somewhere between Michael Jackson and Fred Astair, and his guitar licks, to use the words of Cameron Crowe, "are incendiary." While Encinal Drama Teacher Bob Moorhead may be the director of FOOTLOOSE, Ian is clearly the student leader.
Ren's mother: Ethel McCormick is superbly played by the lovely and talented Roma Estandian. As Ethel, Roma gets to showcase her mellifluous voice, do some fine acting and manages to do more costume changes than anyone else in the cast. Does Roma have a changing room or a costume trailer?
On of the best surprises in the show is Naomi Grunditz who plays the Preacher's wife: Vi Moore. Not only is Naomi a National Merit Scholarship Finalist in her daytime job, but, this scholastically outstanding senior applies her same standards of excellence to her singing: technical precision and melodious tonal quality: it is truly a pleasure to hear her sing. Simone Rodrigues, who plays Ariel Moore, is one of the most daring voices in the entire show. And, in an era of AUSD budget cuts, MS Rodrigues needs no microphone: this lady is her own amplifier and speaker system. As a recent arrival on the Encinal stage, this lady has never heard of stage fright: she is not afraid to take risks in front of an audience: she sings loudly, she sings boldly and she seems to effortlessly achieve the required range. While some high school singers have the audience inwardly praying that they will finish the song with minimal embarrassment, Simone exudes such confidence and competency in her vocals that the audience can sit back, relax and enjoy her marvelous singing.
Given her performance, MS Rodrigues is a conspicuous candidate for the Alameda Civic Light Opera. Hopefully Encinal Drama will afford her many more opportunities for continued development of her prodigious talent.
Good supporting actors include Leon Deleon as the obsequious Wes Warnicker. As the expression goes, "there are no small parts, only small actors." Leon's warm, expansive, effusive personality is clearly evidenced on stage.
Every small town has a Jeter; Encinal has a Jeter. He is the last guy to forsake shorts and to start wearing trousers to school. Jeter is the last guy to realize that his school is a coed institution. Jeter only quits wearing a hat surmounted by a pinwheel because he outgrows his and can't find a replacement in his size. At Encinal such a character as Jeter, could only be properly cast by the smiley-faced ninth grader: Jose Montes.
Alameda's recent Miss Teen Glamour Winner: Roxanne Angeles makes a delightful cameo appearance as country singer in Irene's Band. The ever radiant Bersabel Tadesse is the smiling face that lights up the entire FOOTLOOSE chorus line which is so professionally choreographed by Amy Moorhead.
FOOTLOOSE continues through the weekend of March 24th. To restore your confidence in public education and in the younger generation, and for a delightful evening of singing and dancing get thee to FOOTLOOSE at Encinal High School. The curtain goes up at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday.
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