"110 in the Shade" at Theatre in the Round

Theatre in the Round doesn't do many musicals, so I'm glad they chose the rarely produced gem 110 in the Shade this season. It originally premiered on Broadway in the '60s and ran for less than a year, and has been revived only once, for a few months in 2007 - a little surprising because the score is beautiful. Not only is this an excellent choice in musicals, but it's such a thrill to hear a lovely score such as this in TRP's small arena space with a small band and the singers not miked, so there's no amplification to get in between the music and your ears. The music sounds richer, the story feels more immediate in that intimate setting. They've assembled a strong cast; in particular the two leads have gorgeous voices and wonderful stage presence. If you appreciate beautiful musical storytelling, check out 110 in the Shade at Theatre in the Round, the longest running theater in Minneapolis.

110 in the Shade was written by creators of The Fantasticks, based on the Robert Nash play The Rainmaker about a family and a community living in drought (in more than one way) whose lives are changed by the arrival of a mysterious stranger. It's basically The Music Man, except instead of con man Professor Harold Hill selling the concept of a big band, we have con man Bill Starbuck promising to make it rain. But like Hill, what Starbuck is really bringing to the townspeople, and "spinster" Lizzie in particular, is a feeling of hope. He's a catalyst for change, shaking them out of their routine lives and reminding them there's more to the world than just what they know.*

I saw Yellow Tree Theatre's production of The Rainmaker a few years ago and absolutely loved it. Last fall, Second Fiddle Productions gave me a taste of the musical in their staged reading, and I'm even more charmed by it now seeing a fully staged production. The story of the musical is pretty similar to the play (The Rainmaker playwright Robert Nash wrote the book), although there's more lightness and humor than the beautifully sad play I remember, but it is a musical. The story is a bit antiquated, with the family desperately trying to "marry off" Lizzie, but if you can look past that, it's more about her wanting to be seen and loved and appreciated, which is what we all want. Starbuck gives that to her, as well as a belief that she deserves those things.* I wish the ending weren't quite so pat, but it's refreshing to see a story in which a woman doesn't have to change who she is, to lie and flirt to "get a man the way he needs to be got," but rather to see the men appreciate her for who she is.

The score is lovely, romantic, and funny, with a variety of musical styles. After this second experience with the music I decided to download the cast recording (2007 revival with Audra McDonald, John Cullum, and Steve Kazee, natch). TRP's sparse four-piece orchestra (keyboard, percussion, trumpet, and clarinet) led by music director Angela May suits the intimate space, and the sound balance is great even with the challenges of singing in the round.

Starbuck and Lizzie (Rodolfo Nieto and Emily Jabas)

The strong cast is led by Emily Jabas, natural and likable as the no-nonsense serious-talking Lizzie. She has wonderful chemistry with Rodolfo Nieto as her Starbuck, who possesses a bartione voice so thrilling and powerful I half expected it to be raining when I left the theater. Michael Dufault as Lizzie's father and Jared Mogen and Andrew Newman as her brothers form a believable family unit, and Michael Postle's Sheriff File is a legitimate romantic rival. The large ensemble fills out the town and makes the chorus numbers sound lovely and rich, performing Shannon Roberg's charming folksy choreography well.

Set designers Scott Gilbert and Corinna Troth utilize a quilt pattern theme in inlaid wood around the arena, with very little in the way of furniture or set pieces to crowd the open space, just a few rustic benches and platforms (including a couple of benches that ingeniously convert to picnic tables). Carolann Winther's costumes look authentically period and Western, including cowboy boots and hats. The townspeople are dressed in simple but pleasant attire, against which the mysterious Starbuck's flashier clothes (a leather vest!) are contrasted.

The lovely 110 in the Shade continues through May 21 at Theatre in the Round.


*Some text borrowed from what I wrote about about Second Fiddle's staged reading last fall.