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Show Thursday, June & 1997 w nn il ITT r Much of the unevenness can also be attributed to directors Charla Brinkpeter and Audrey Terry, who have attempted to Theatre entertainment at the and depth that insight, intricacy One is left in amazement was able to jam into a single song. Yet showcasing Brel's songs is a difficult task, and the ensemble delivered both hits and misses. " Unfortunately, most of the misses occurred at the top of the show when the senses suffered a loud and jarring overload as the ensemble clomped, belted and thudded through the first few numbers. Brel bombarded the audience with messy choreography and loud gasping voices that couldn't be heard over the band. The number stumbled by so quickly you couldn't tell if it reflected marathon dancing of the 1930's or a "marathon" of the 20th century. Matthew Kellogg looked painfully uncomfortable in his rendition of "Alone," Karen d Nielsen's turn in "Mathilde" was confusing, and gender-switche- Alexis Baigue and Jennifer Rapp's first solo numbers were' victims loud band. The shaky start was not promising or endearing, and the ensemble lacked the cohesion necessary to make the revue seamless and smooth. What they lacked in cohesiveness, they more than made up for with solo performances. Karen Nielsen amazes with her multiplicity, showing she is just as adept at character singing as she is at playing the flute and guitar. Chris Negus was a very strong stage presence, even with a slight-- . look constantly on his face. Shauna Scott brought the right amount of pertness to her many sarcastic and heartfelt numbers, ly-lo- st while Alexis Baigue stood out in his many numbers. Jennifer Rapp turned in a good performance, o though her choreography was at times. Matthew Kellogg performed well even though his so-s- singing was very ' We needed by Works West's Jacques Alive and Well and in Paris was to play until June 15, but Trolley Square pushed the execution date for the Wooden Dog up to June 1. Too bad. Jacques BreL. offered a fun and thought provoking evening of of a dissonant Although there were two speakers on each side of the stage, the singers were frequently , - jrry ' 'i i make Jacques Brel... speak to '90s audiences. Realizing that there is no current military conflict to divide the nation, Brinkpeter and Terry had cast members wear red ribbons, possibly to symbolize the war against AIDS. While a noble gesture, it didn't tie into the material (except for a quick mention of another sexually transmitted infection in one song). Brinkpeter and Terry did a better job at bringing home the meaning of Brel's songs by decorating the stage with a World War I foxhole, a French cafe and a bridge. These set pieces reflected the shifting locales of each song, and allowed the audience to put the material into historical context. Also credited as the show's set designer, Brinkpeter might have made a better attempt at abstracting or integrating these three distinct scenic elements. Even I ipiiin, 3 OST. Fran sporting events to quick road trips and how to find your way. DtySearch gives you everything appeal, it still aided the changeling mood-shift- s of Brel's songs. Brinkpeter and Terry did better as (Although Terry also did fine work as music direc- iso if pi x you need to know. though the set lacked visual tor). More often r i GJ9 So got on it. Sett Lc!Perk City CitySoaich www.citysearchslc.com than not, Brinkpeter and Terry's illustration of each song is effective, if occasionally corny, as in "Old Folks" and The Bulls." No costume designer was credited in the program, which could explain the hodgepodge of flair and mediocrity with costumes. It looked like each cast member found their own black apparel to fit each piece. Gearly, the women were fashion winners of Jacques Bret... although an honorable mention goes to Baigue on the men's side. When the cast could be heard, and the staging was at its peak, Jacques BreL. generously invited the audience to share in Brel's songs of longing, regret, tenderness and humor. Alas, the good die young, and like the composer, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living tit Paris and the Wooden Dog all suffered an early death. Let's hope that TheatreWorks West, one of Salt Lake's more intelligent theater companies, doesn't suffer the same fate as it 1 SCG Realty Services Proudly presents the diploma ; 0.M.O. (On My Own) to the Class of 1997! I. - - 're strictly OJf.O. (on my own) when you step into a fabulous SCG Realty services With a spectrum of "apartment community.' 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