Review: BONNIE & CLYDE at CMPAC

Kicking off their 37th season, The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center has mounted a terrific production of the Tony nominated musical Bonnie & Clyde. With a book by Ivan Menchell, this is a "biographical" story of the two most notorious gangsters. Many themes are touched upon in this story - despite their violent, criminal shenanigans - including true love, the solidarity of family, and unwavering loyalty. Running through September 27th at the Oakdale, Long Island, venue, the show is truly top notch.

Leading the stellar Patrick Grossman directed cast as the infamous couple are CM vets Emily Dowdell and Bobby Peterson. Overall, they are a great team. They like to fight (foreplay to them), stick up banks, kill, and drive fast cars. Most importantly, however, they sing the Frank Wildhorn/Don Black score incredibly well. The eclectic score included a mix of gospel, ragtime, and country - a typical 1930's palate. You'll see that Bonnie and Clyde are not depicted as typical gangsters. Rather, they are egotists who simply want to be famous.

Also among the wonderful cast is Briggs Houston as Buck, Clyde's brother, and Shannon Cunningham as Blanche, Buck's holier-than-thou wife. As you can tell from the top of the show, Buck and Clyde have always been searching for - and getting into - trouble. Blanche unwillingly becomes involved in "the life" in hopes that Buck, forever sticking by his brother's side, will leave this life of crime. Favorites among the audience are the guys rousing rendition of "When I Drive" and the girls exquisite version of "You Love Who You Love".

Additionally, the impressive set, created by Mr. Grossman, resembles the Broadway incarnation. Three sections span the length of the stage opening and closing for different scenes. And, of course, Bonnie and Clyde's legendary car is part of these sequences. Graphics are consistently used with images of the real Barrow gang. The newspaper clipping images could be real as well, but I digress. This is enhanced beautifully by Carl Tese's lighting design, Jennifer Miller's remarkable sound design (warning: it can get loud), and the stunning costumes created by Ronald Green III. Kudos also to the fantastic orchestra headed up by the talented Matthew W. Surico (another CM vet). At certain moments you may find they overpower the cast, but everyone (cast and band) is so strong, it practically goes unnoticed.

And so, The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM PAC certainly has another hit on their hands with Bonnie and Clyde. A superb cast, 1930's gangsters, and chaos make for a truly thrilling night of theatre.

Bonnie & Clyde is presented by the Noel S Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center of Oakdale, Long Island, through September 27th. Book by Ivan Menchell, Lyrics by Don Black, Music by Frank Wildhorn, Direction & Set Design by Patrick Grossman, Music Direction by Matthew W. Surico, Sound Design by Jennifer Miller, Lighting Design by Carl Tese, Stage Management by Barbara Tiernan, Costume Design by Ronald Green III. For more information and to purchase ticket, please call 631-218-2810 or visit www.cmpac.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.