BWW Reviews: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse Presents Piece of CO History in THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN

First I must comment on this unique treasure. I was truly in awe of Candlelight Dinner Playhouse being a cultural beacon in the middle of the north Colorado farm fields. I applaud them for picking a challenging location and drawing in audiences for every production. The thing that was most noticeable was this theater's heart. From the box office and support staff, to the actors and tech crew, it was apparent that everyone truly cared about this theater and were willing to make the commute to make this wonderful company work. So let's talk about food, which was pleasantly delicious. We were starving after the drive and started with the Mushrooms and Brie. The stuffed mushrooms were delightful and good, but it left me wanting more (I would change the portion size from four to six. The brie was absolutely delectable and the accompaniments of Jalapeno jelly, roasted garlic and candied pecans worked harmoniously with the soft, warm brie. My first course was the Italian Bisque that was creamy, good and warmed me right up. My entree was the Leadville Chicken Fried Steak was great and I especially loved the bit of heat from the green chile gravy and the seasoned breading. I also noticed the generous sized kids portions that left everyone at the table satisfied. Be sure to get the Candlelight Signature Bread Pudding that featured the world famous Johnson's Corner cinnamon rolls and was blended with rich custard and tart cherries, drizzled with homemade Amaretto sauce and topped with candied walnuts!

Now on with the show! As a proud employee of the Brown Palace Hotel (one of Molly Brown's favorite getaways) and a lover of Colorado history, I was ecstatic to see this MerEdith Wilson classic. Now I have to admit, this musical is not as strong as The Music Man or Miracle of 34th Street, but it was delightful and enjoyable to watch. Now there some issues with the sound levels that needed a tweak as several times the band was drowning out the singers onstage. Also the cast needs to remember diction...diction....Diction! Several of the songs and lines were muddled and hard to understand, especially in the first couple of scenes. I only say this because many of the theatergoers in my audience were senior citizens and the cast needs to be understanding and empathetic to hearing sensitivity of this age group. Highlight Numbers include Belly up to the Bar, Beautiful People of Denver, Are You Sure?, I Ain't Down Yet, Happy Birthday Mrs. JJ Brown, Dolce for Niente.

Mary McGroary as Molly Tobin Brown was wonderfully charismatic and a magnetic ball of energy that drew the audience in and carried the show with delightful ease and charm. She had the pipes to make everyone take notice and made this historic character relatable and real. David Ambroson as her husband, Johnny "Leadville" Brown was also great to watch. His bumbling, goofy portrayal of Johnny was adorable and his chemistry with Molly was engaging and swept us away on their romantic journey. While the entire ensemble did a fabulous job and kept the energy high, there were a couple of performances that really caught my eye. Alisha Winter was delicious as the snooty and disapproving Mrs. McGlone and I loved her story arc. Joel Sutliff as Prince DeLong was also enjoyable and his passionate performance was a highlight in Act Two.

Directed by Brian Burron and Musical Direction by Kathryn Voelker were excellent. This duo did a great job with this interesting show with a large cast and so many different scenes. There were a couple hiccups on the timing of the show and I would have had more of an overlap with the transition scenes that were performed in the audience, but all in all this production ran quite smoothly. One other glaring romantic edit that I would have changed was right at the end of the show. When Molly is reading the inscription in the wedding band, I would have had her said the first rule and then have Johnny say the second. That would have gotten Molly's attention and given her an extra romantic swoon moment in Johnny's arms before the curtain falls (if you couldn't tell, I am a romantic at heart). Choreography by Michelle Sergeeff was pretty good, but inconsistent. Belly up to the Bar and Dolce for Niente were lovely and memorable, but I just wish she had pushed the bar on other songs to give them a much needed energetic boost. For example, the first I Ain't Down Yet between Molly and her brothers could have featured some fun dance tricks and acrobatic moves that would have really made this opening number stand out. Scenic Design by Melissa Schrank and Scenic Artist Joseph Baykon created a wonderful contrast from the beatnik beginnings of Molly to the rich opulence of Denver and Paris. I especially loved their interpretation of Molly Brown's Red Room that was visually something to behold. The lighting design by Thomas Kearney was perfect for each varied scene. I have to commend costume designer Judy Ernst and Bren.Eyestone Burron on their gorgeous fabrics that were totally appropriate for the time period. This show was quite an undertaking with so many costumes for this large cast and so many different scenes and cities and this dynamic duo pulled it off fabulously. In keeping with the time period, the hair and wigs by Debbie Spaur really made each character unique and I loved the many wigs of Molly Brown.

Get an entertaining glimpse into Colorado history with THE UNSINKABLE Molly Brown enchanting audiences now until March 30th. Showtimes are Thursday, Friday & Saturday Evenings -- Dinner seating at 6:00 pm; Show at 7:30 pm, Saturday Matinees -Dinner seating at 12 noon, show at 1:30 pm. The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse is located at 4747 Marketplace Drive in Johnstown, CO.