Theater Review —

There Are A Few Good Reasons Why

‘Brigadoon’ Is Right For Richter’s Stage

By Julie Stern

DANBURY — Mention Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, and immediately people think “oh, yes, My Fair Lady [1956] and Camelot [1960],”  but nine years before the great anti-romance between Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins made them millionaires, the pair collaborated on their first big success: a Scottish themed fantasy called Brigadoon.

It was a Broadway hit in 1947,  but it gets performed a lot less often than their more famous shows, or even the works of contemporaries Rodgers and Hammerstein. I suspect most people have never seen it, nor would they recognize the music in an elevator, except…

“What a day, this has been / What a rare mood I’m in / Why it’s almost like being in love

“All the music in life seems to be, like a bell that is ringing for me / And from the way that I feel, When that bell starts to peal…”

I bet you know that one.

Musicals At Richter has picked Brigadoon for its second production of the season, and in fact it’s an ideal choice, for reasons which I’ll explain after a brief description of the plot.

When American tourists Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas get lost while game hunting in the Scottish highlands, the two buddies stumble upon a quaint fog-shrouded village, where the people are friendly enough, but seem grounded in the 18th Century. In fact Brigadoon is a magical village, which comes to life for only one day, every 100 years, and it happens to be on one of these days that Tommy and Jeff discover it.

Tommy, who is engaged somewhat reluctantly to a girl back home in New York, falls in love with Fiona, a delightful young maid from Brigadoon.  But in order to be with her, he would have to submit to living on magical terms — giving up his normal  jaded, New York City life, and consenting to accept the enchanted sleep that the other villagers endure.

Will he or won’t he? Should he or shouldn’t he? And what about Jeff?

One of the things that makes this particular show a treat, and also ideal for the Richter type of operation that involves a large cast of all ages, is its potential for pageantry. By my count, 43 performers, all beautifully festooned in a variety of plaids, breaking out into merry dancing, to music that contains the echoes of Gaelic piping, is highly enjoyable. Renee Purdy’s costuming, Jeri Kansas’ choreography, and Tina Lorusso’s musical direction are all well thought out and fun for both the eye and the ear.

All three ensembles — adults, teens and youth — are well trained and sure in their intricate steps and swirling movements as they dance about the stage.

A second definite asset is the obvious chemistry between husband and wife team Nathan and Caitlin Mandracchia, in the role of the young lovers. It’s easy to believe, when you see them gazing into one another’s eyes, that they are truly smitten.

And then there’s some spot on droll humor provided by the second couple, Tommy’s cynical buddy Jeff and the flirtatious Meg Brockie. Ted Schwartz and Dianna Waller imbue this pair with riotously comic encounters, and Ms Waller belts out a pair of songs that are enormously enjoyable, so that the audience in their lawn chairs can’t help but stomp along in happy unison.

Under Donald Birely’s direction you get a clear sense of the tone of village life, and the mix of characters and personalities who make up this gentle, anachronistic world, and it is easy to see that charm that beckons Tommy to stay.

It is also an easy, gentle, charming way to spend a hot evening, sitting under the stars and enjoying a well crafted, high spirited entertainment.

(Performances continue weekends until July 21 at Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Road in Danbury.

See the Enjoy Calendar, in print and online, for curtain, ticket and other details.)