Carmichaels Area High School‘s production of "Footloose" is an energetic and entertaining performance that features a young and talented cast.
"Footloose" is based on a 1984 movie with Kevin Bacon, John Lithgow, Lori Singer and Chris Penn. The stage version is known for being loathed by critics yet beloved by audiences. It’s loathed because its many songs from the movie, such as “Footloose,” “Holding Out for a Hero” and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy." It’s loved by audiences because of the very same songs.
In a show like "Footloose," good dancing is essential. Carmichaels’ Stan Ferek III auditorium is a comfortable living room of a theater that puts the actors a stretch and a grab away from the audience, not that anyone tried. Under the choreography of Susan Zalar, the dancing is well done and full of energy. Zalar avoids the pitfall of teaching one dance routine and expecting everyone on stage to perform it simultaneously, a strategy that frequently draws attention to the best and worst dancers and away from the show as a whole.
The female lead is played by 14-year-old Megan Bayles who gives a truly remarkable performance. Poised and focused, her acting and singing belies her years.
She is not the only young, talented female performer in the cast. Kaylene Vilenica (junior), Kaylee Cutwright (junior), Ariel Robinson (junior), Kimberly Rowan (sophomore) Nicole Faddis (sophomore) and Emily Cutwright round out the female cast. Valencia and the two Cutwrights (apparently unrelated) have a very strong rapport with each other on stage and their voices blend together very well, particularly in “Somebody’s Eyes.”
Andrew Allison as Ren McCormack brings an easygoing exasperation and self awareness to the character, rather than the condescending smugness of Kevin Bacon. He is one of the few senior leads in the performance and his talents will undoubtedly be missed. He plays straight man to fellow senior Steve Stuvek who is perfectly cast as Willard Hewitt. Hewitt brings a wry sense of humor to the role that also seems to carry over to his private life. In his program bio he states, “You’re just reading this to kill time before the show starts… Not that I’m complaining or anything.” Not true, Steve. Sometimes you read it to check a spelling.
There’s not really a villain like Fagin (Oliver!) or Child Catcher (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) or Captain Hook (Peter Pan). Ren’s nemesis, Chuck Cranston (yet another talented youngster, Christian Berardi) and his tormentor, Rev. Shaw (junior Don Davis, an obvious crowd favorite) both play their roles well.
There is a tremendous potential for Carmichaels over the next several years as these very young performers gain maturity and seasoning. It’s rare for underclassmen to get these roles usually reserved for seniors. With any luck, director Joanna Walker will continue to find productions that take full advantage of the extraordinary amount of young talent at Carmichaels.
- wpxi.com