The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Step right up to Near West’s ‘Carnival!’
The circus is back in town in fun Cleveland production
With the recent closing of the famed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and other traveling circuses, the clowns, acrobats and wild acts that fascinated children for so many generations now appear to be lost to today’s youth and may remain only as a memory for the rest of us.
Fortunately, the grandeur and spectacle of the circus still can be experienced at Cleveland’s Near West Theatre, where a production of “Carnival!” brings the energy and excitement of the Big Top to life.
Based on the film “Lili,” written by Helen Deutsch and Michael Stewart, with music by Bob Merrill, “Carnival!” opened on Broadway in 1961. The musical takes place some 30 years prior, when Lili, a recently orphaned girl, plans to join the circus. She quickly falls in love with a playboy magician, Marco, and finds success performing in an act with a hobbled puppeteer, Paul. But as Lili becomes more successful, she finds herself the subject of manipulation and jealousy.
Bob Navis Jr. does a fantastic job directing a large multi-generational cast, with actors playing assorted circus gypsies, gauchos and grafters. Their well-executed choreography, designed by Joshua D. Landis, is as fun and playful as the music provided by the seven musicians under the direction of Butch Marshall.
Samantha Kennett, as an innocent and youthful Lili, executes Merrill’s music perfectly with her
stunningly clear and operatic voice. Likewise, Scott Pyle, as Paul, sings wonderfully, successfully emoting his character’s jealousy and self-loathing through his songs. His dual performance as lovable puppets is very entertaining, as well.
Roland Moore is charming yet appropriately sleazy as Marco, while his lovely assistant, the boisterous and sassy Rosalie, is wellplayed by Amanda Bender.
Jim Malloy, as the circus
leader, B.F. Schlegel, has fun drunken interactions with Rosalie in the song “Humming,” while Josh Landis, as the likable Frenchman Jacquot, leads the company in a stand-out dance number during “Grand Imperial Cirque de Paris.”
The creative set designed by Cameron Caley Michalak offers velveteen curtains, colorful streamers and a variety of carnival sites such as a pop-the-balloon game. All this is complemented by mood-establishing lighting by Michael Stein and glittery, shimmering costumes by Loren “Coco” Mayer.
Near West even sells bags of popcorn to add to the circus-like atmosphere, though the sound of consumption from the crunchy, crackling plastic bags they are served in is quite a distraction when live theater is taking place.
This is a gorgeous production of “Carnival!” and its portrayal of the darker side of circus life is as intriguing, even if traveling circuses no longer are a popular form of entertainment.