Without divulging too much of the plot, almost every member of the diverse and multicultural cast (led by Paul Scanlan and Josh Sticklin and including Danny Bertaux, Autumn Seavey, Caroline Wolfson, Chad Fornwalt, Christian Montgomery, Dani Stoller, Darius Epps, Eben Logan, Emily Levey, Ian Coleman, Ines Nassara, Jade Jones, Jamie Boyle, Katie Furtado, Kedren Spencer, Lyndsay Rini, Paige Felix, Ryan Patrick Welsh, Thony Mena, and Peter Finnegan) is afforded an opportunity to share a solo—oftentimes an entire song—which allows for each voice of the ensemble to truly shine through.
The opening song “Aquarius” set the mood for the evening, featuring Ines Nassara as Ronny, delivering a powerful, chilling belt that brought me goosebumps.”
Sticklin continued the opening sequence running through the aisles of the theatre as a crazed, irreverent free spirit, performing the love-rock song “Donna” with a stage presence and confidence that put the entire audience on the edges of their seats…Claude’s (Paul Scanlan) solo in “Where Do I Go?” is a rare, tender moment in the musical in which we are able to enjoy his voice with only minor accompaniment.
Not only is the subject matter and the performance cutting-edge, but so too are Matthew Keenan’s scenic design, Chelsey Schuller’s costume design, and Allan Sean Weeks’ lighting design.”
With smoke permeating the tight, enclosed space of The Keegan Theatre made to emulate smoke from drug use, the lighting design—coordinated perfectly in time to capture the tenacity and vivaciousness of hippie culture—is accentuated; thereby, creating a fully sensuous experience that complements the live orchestra. Under the musical direction of Jake Null, the eight piece orchestra situated to the rear of the stage features woodwinds (Dana Gardner), Guitar (Jaime Ibacache and Mike Kozemchak), Bass (Jason Wilson), Percussion (Walter McCoy), Drums (Alex Aucoin), and trumpets (Paul Weiss and Brian Morton) that complement the textured sound of the almost thirty-person ensemble without becoming overpowering.
