An 18th-century Scottish village that only
appears once every hundred years and thus remains untouched by
worldly evil certainly defies the laws of physics.
It doesn’t even make much sense magically speaking. What happens
during those 364 days of non-appearance? What ensures that everyone
goes to sleep and wakes up at the same time? And how does this
long rest period keep the citizenry from all those human failings
to which we are so prone?
But this imaginary village of Brigadoon nevertheless functions
very well as the basis of the eponymous musical by Frederick
Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner.
"Brigadoon" opened at Broadway’s Ziegfeld Theatre on
March 13, 1947, ran for 581 performances and won the Drama Critics’
Award for best musical. It has been revived six times at the
New York City Center and once at the Majestic Theatre in 1980.
This month, the Heights Players at 26 Willow Place and State
Street in Brooklyn Heights are bringing the tiny village to life
in Brooklyn, and its charming citizenry once again delights and
enchants.
Thomas N. Tyler ("La Cage Aux Folles," "Miracle
on 34th Street") directs a huge cast of actors, singers
and dancers, supported by the choreography of James Martinelli
and Gina Wolff, and the musical direction of Ray Jordan.
Substantial credit also must be given to Bill Wood for his reproduction
of the lush forest setting, and costumer Albert Walsh, for dressing
his buxom maidens in all those skirts and bodices, frocks and
petticoats, and for accumulating the most kilts ever seen outside
the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
When "Brigadoon" opened on Broadway, World War II had
been over for two years, and Americans were eager to forget their
troubles and imagine a better world. "Brigadoon" filled
that need then as it certainly does today.
The play opens with two hunters, Tommy Albright (Fabio Taliercio)
and Jeff Douglas (Ed Healy), accidentally stumbling into this
sleepy little hamlet populated by fair maidens, hearty swains
and wise elders. Jeff is aggressively pursued by Meg Brockie
(Gina Wolff), and Tommy falls in love with the fair and lovely
Fiona MacLaren (Tina Throckmorton).
This incredible village with its gentle mists, blue skies and
green valleys, seems almost too good to be real to Tommy. And
when he finds out the truth, he just about decides to chuck his
girlfriend, his job and everything else back home to spend the
rest of his life with Fiona in Brigadoon. Then, the untimely
death of one Brigadoonite convinces him he’d better go home.
Fiona, of course, is heartbroken. But she shouldn’t be. This
is "Brigadoon," not "West Side Story," and
everyone knows his renunciation won’t last for long.
Thin in plot, dialogue and characterization, with only a few
memorable melodies, most notably the lyrical love songs "Almost
Like Being in Love," "Come to Me, Bend to Me,"
"The Heather on the Hill," the ensemble piece "Brigadoon"
and Gina Wolff’s raunchy masterpiece "My Mother’s Wedding
Day," the show’s biggest attraction is its dance numbers
– "Come to Me Dance," "Country Dance" and
"Weddin’ Dance."
The original Broadway production was choreographed by Agnes de
Mille, who won a Tony Award for her work. The 1954 MGM movie
starred dancers Cyd Charisse as Fiona and Gene Kelly as Tommy.
And the late 1960s television special featured ballet dancer
Edward Vilella as Harry Beaton, the scorned suitor whose death
ends Tommy and Jeff’s stay in "Brigadoon."
In the Heights Players’ production, Wolff and Martinelli have
created some colorful dance numbers that show off the artists’
abilities without straining their capabilities. They’re also
careful to integrate the dances into the general flow of the
story so they enhance rather than disrupt.
"Brigadoon" also features some really fine voices –
Throckmorton’s powerful soprano and Taliercio’s rich tenor. Add
to that Healy’s devil-may-care humor that works so well with
the devilish Wolff, and "Brigadoon" is a don’t-miss
hit.
Fortunately, the play, unlike the village, will be around for
more than one day this year.
The Heights Players production of "Brigadoon"
plays through May 19, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays
at 2 pm at 26 Willow Place at State Street in Brooklyn Heights.
Tickets are $15, $13 students and seniors. For reservations,
call (718) 237-2752.
