new play:werewolves

[GLEN NICHOLS]

Welcome back
Last night we saw a brandnew musical, produced by Live Bait Theatre
in Sackville, N.B. and it was a smashing good time.  UNDER THE NIGHT
is by Dean M Burry (Music/lyrics) & Charlie Rhindress (Book) and will
be running at the Windsor Theatre, Mount Allison U., for about
another week. It is the story of two fellows, separated by time and
geography who both suffer the fate (or do they?) of being werewolves.
We watch the two narratives unfold in parallel fashion (one in an old
Rumanian slave gypsy camp and the other in modern Canada) up to its
grand tragic-comic climax.

The music mixes old world flavours (lots of gypsyesque tunes) with
modern rock and ballad forms. The lyrics are generally very solid,
with a lot of great lines.  There are also a number of well-written,
effective dramatic scenes, especially in the second act, without
songs.
The piece moves a bit slowly at the beginning of the first act, but
quickly builds momentum. The first act is 90 minutes long, but, even
on the hard chairs of Windsor Theatre, passed very fast.  The second
act is about 45-60 minutes, but again it moves so well, you don`t
notice the time.

The cast, especially the leads, was extremely strong. The two male
principals, Blaine Totten and Derek Marshall, as well as the young
female leads,  Sherry Garner, and Stephanie Leblanc REALLY took the
show.  The final song, "Making the Connection" especially, highlights
the first three and was a knock-out.  The two guys have several duets
which demonstrate their range of voice and power, despite their
youth.

This is a try-out musical. It has been workshopped last spring at
TNB and deserves another production.

Glen