Jeff Lagrone portrays
Noah in the Artisan Center Theater's production of The
Ark. |
HURST
- In the musical The Ark, when Noah sings "no
one knows what lies ahead on this journey like no other,"
he's not necessarily talking about the tasks of taking care of
animals and staying afloat on a wooden vessel.
Soon we learn what makes this
musical, now onstage at Artisan Center Theater, so endearing:
its exploration of relationships between spouses and between
father and son.
The show's creators (music by
Michael McLean, book and lyrics by McLean and Kevin Kelly)
have chosen a well-known subject that could have been more
about faith and God's plan, and wisely created a show about
how human emotions are heightened in a state of cabin fever.
Some of the jokes are corney,
but more of them are clever enough, especially in the song Dinner.
Also compelling are the characters
of Noah (Joel Lagrone at the performance seen for this review)
and his overworked wife, Eliza (Jill Hall); their sons, the
headstrong Ham (Keith Warren), inventor Japeth (Chris Jordan)
and mama's boy Shem (Tyler Martin); and their respective wives,
Egyptus (Shanice Antwine), Sariah (Lauren Luckett) and Martha
(Teresa Andrion).
Directed by Dee Ann Blair on
her own smart, environmental set design (with added beauty
by Shelbie McElree's animal paintings), the show flows along
at a steady pace, never rushed or sluggish. It's nothing groundbreaking,
but it is cute and entertaining. Audiences will chuckle at
how the animals are represented.
Most of the singing is head-voice American
Idol-audition kind of fare (it sometimes borders on
painful when they're belting). The exception is Warren, whose
tenor is more legit. He is heavenly on the show's best song, Whenever
He Needs a Miracle. Acting-wise, everyone handles the
job believably, making for smooth sailing.
Runs through Jan 26. Showtimes
are 7:30 pm Mondays, Tuesdays (except New Year's Day), Thursdays,
Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 pm Saturdays.
Artisan Center Theater, Hurst
$6-$13
817-284-1200; www.artisanct.com
Be advised: Nothing offensive,
except an occasional eyebrow-raising phrase ("screw it
up," on the ark?)
Runtime: Two hours and 10 minutes,
with one intermission.
Best reason to go: Warren's
performance, and luckily he's one of the only two actors who
play the same role at every performance (the other is Luckett).
All the others switch with other actors at alternating performances.
mlowry@star-telegram.com
MARK LOWRY, 817-390-7747
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