Musical about conjoined twins shows beauty of being different
Conjoined twins who became Depressionera stars inspired the musical “Side Show.”
Gallery Players will present the Broadway musical about Violet and Daisy Hilton; the show will open on Saturday at the Jewish Community Center.
“The musical challenges the audience to think about how we view others who are not like ourselves,” director Ross Shirley said.
“At one point in real life, the sisters were the highestpaid vaudeville act in the country. They were considered circus freaks and oddities,” he said. “But the musical shows they were more than oddities. They had talent.”
Composer Henry Krieger (“Dreamgirls”) and authorlyricist Bill Russell created the 1997 musical that was nominated for five Tony awards, including best musical, book and score.
Gallery Players is performing the revised version of the musical, which is based on the 2014-15 Broadway revival.
For the revival, Krieger and Russell reworked the two-act with more backstory about the Hilton twins — including the choice they faced of whether to undergo separation surgery — and added some songs.
“The musical poses thoughtful questions,”
“Side Show” Gallery Players Jewish Community Center’s Roth/Resler Theatre, 1125 College Ave. 614-231-2731, www.jccgalleryplayers.org 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through March 18 $15 to $25
Shirley said.
“How do we treat people who are not considered everyday or typical or normal? We should be able to look beyond the surface.”
Bailey Maholm plays Daisy and Eryn Hollobaugh portrays Violet.
“There definitely are personality differences,” said Malholm, 21.
“Bubbly, robust and outgoing, Daisy desires fame and fortune. Violet is more demure, sensitive and withdrawn. … The sisters give each other a renewed sense of hope, to keep trying in their careers and relationships.”
As conjoined twins, they had to try harder.
“They just want to be normal, like everyone else, but it’s difficult because they’re attached at the hip and lived in the 1930s, an era when such people were considered freaks,” said Hollobaugh, 25.
“But being different can be a beautiful thing. … What makes you different is what makes you special.”
Having sisters helped both actresses shape the twins’ complex relationship.
“My oldest sister, Madison, is only a year older, so we were often seen as twins growing up. Many people thought we were twins because we were inseparable,” Maholm said.
“It gave me insight about the amount of love and care you can have for another person — and the arguing you can get into with someone you’re that close to.” Hollobaugh agreed. “Anyone we meet could think my younger sister Meg and I are so close that they could confuse us. People sometimes don’t know which of us is older,” she said.
“Violet and Daisy rely on each other so much for wisdom, reflecting on each other’s opinions. I go to my sisters, confide in and listen to them because I know they’ll be there for me.”
Still, casting the lead roles was challenging.
“Trying to find two women the same size and stature