Review: THE DAWNING OF AQUARIUS at Quality Hill Playhouse

Assembled Baby Boomers and others walk through the patented Kent Barnhart "Wayback Machine" to find themselves happily arrived at "The Dawning of Aquarius" in the last quarter of the 20th Century. "Aquarius" plays now at Quality Hill Playhouse through Sunday, August 7. With Kent and his band are assembled an excellent four-person cast, the audience transports to a time no less troubled than now, but somehow simpler when viewed in the rear view mirror.

Singers include Quality Hills' impresario Kent Barnhart (in his droll master of ceremonies personae) plus Kansas City favorites Christina Burton, Jessalyn Kincaid, LeShea Wright along with the inexhaustible Tim Scott. Barnhart's signature choice of ensemble arrangements fit the era he is intending to recreate much better than O.J.'s glove.

This very pleasant evening kicks off with a jubilant rendition of "Aquarius" from 1968's breakthrough musical "Hair." Most of the first act is filled with pop singles that filled airwaves of the time. From The Mommas and The Papas we hear "Monday, Monday." Christina calls up the specter of "Connie Francis" belting out "Where The Boys Are." Jessalyn sings "The First Ever I Saw Your Face." And Tim conjures "The Fab Four" with "Yesterday" and "With A Little Help From My Friends" while Kent builds a "Bridge Over Troubled Waters." LeShae resurrects Motown with a trio of songs batting in the cleanup position with "Stop! In The Name of Love." Jessalyn is suitable sassy with her rendition of Jeanne C. Riley's"Harper Valley PTA."

The singers are unfailingly good, but seem to feel a tad more comfortable with songs that originated on stage where characterization can be suggested in the performance. An example is the very good first act closer "Day By Day" from Stephen Schwartz's 1971 "Godspell."

Act II begins with the mysterious anthem from 1972's glorious "Pippin" opener which warns us they have "Magic To Do" and the cast offers a great selection of pop song from the period. Christina hits a home run with her rendition of Cher's "Gypsys, Tramps, and Thieves."

To sum up, Quality Hill's "Dawn of Aquarius" presented this as the kind of production that has traditionally earned sellout audiences. These are the songs that Audience members know and love from a time not so long ago. The performers are first rate and the backup band and stagecraft are most representative of the high quality bar set.

"The Dawning of Aquarius" continues at Quality Hill Playhouse from Wednesdays to Mondays through August 7, 2016. The few remaining seats are available online at http://www.qualityhillplayhouse.com/.

This is the final show of Quality Hill's 2016 season. 2017's season begins in late September.

Photos courtesy of Quality Hill Playhouse

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