Review: Musical Stage Company's UNCOVERED is Unmissable

What makes a show unmissable? The perfect combination of smart arrangements performed by an ensemble of artists who are the experts of their instruments. UNCOVERED is all of that. The annual concert, produced by the Musical Stage Company, pays tribute to some of the greatest musicians in the world. This year is no exception - the evening features the music of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, with music direction, vocal arrangements and orchestrations by Reza Jacobs.

The show doesn't just feature their music. UNCOVERED captures their essence. Using quotes from the superstars, they are brought to life in an intimate, honest setting. Sara Farb embodies Dylan, pensively smoking a cigarette in a black turtleneck. Jake Epstein is Springsteen, cool and collected in a tight black tee. A narrative forms, tying the evening's performances together.

The night is divided into Dylan and Springsteen, Acts I and II. With the curation of quotes used, the transition between artists is effortless and makes perfect sense. As Dylan, Farb opens the evening with "Mr. Tambourine Man", sung in precious clarity. Farb's spoken voice evolves so naturally into her singing - the quotes following the same pattern as they travel into music.

Epstein enters to Jacobs' arrangement of "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right". Anna Atkinson's haunting solo violin starts, the bass joins in, Justin Gray sweeping across the strings, until it all explodes into a frantic Jason Robert Brown-like virtuosic jam. Epstein's voice is pure, producing beautiful legato lines as he leans into the music. He's joined by Hailey Gillis and Arinea Hermans, singing backup vocals.

Gillis and Hermans end up singing backup throughout the night - and they aren't given the easiest music in the world. Jacobs has trusted these women with close, complex, occasionally operatically-high harmonies - and they kill it. They also get their chance to shine in a sensationally beautiful rendition of "Make You Feel My Love." Hermans can skyrocket through her range with more control than most singers and Gillis has a fantastic instrument - she is simply magical to watch.

The calibre of the talent on stage makes it a very special evening. Canadian Idol winner Melissa O'Neil charms with "It Ain't Me Babe" in a marvelous, emerald gown. Her smoky voice is deliciously devastating, returning for a mesmerizing performance of Springsteen's "The River" in the second act. Tony Award-winner Brent Carver is a real soul singer, delivering two emotionally raw performances as tears swell in his eyes.

To keep energies high, the evening's program offers extreme versatility. Jackie Richardson pulls it all back in "Forever Young", demonstrating her superb musical storytelling skills in Jacobs' beautifully-building cover and then brings the house down with "Pink Cadillac" in the second act. Divine Brown glides through her voice effortlessly, forming a dream trio with O'Neil and Andrew Penner for "Born in the U.S.A". Penner's forceful growly-tone offers a nod to the husky vocal stylings of Springsteen and Dylan.

You even get a chance to hear this year's winners of the 2017-18 Syd & Shirley Banks Prize for Emerging Musical Theatre Artists, George Krissa and Celine Tsai. Performing a mashup of "I'm on Fire/Secret Garden", the pairing is very sweet - Krissa's flawless falsetto matches Tsai's breathy timbre with exceptional chemistry.

Mitchell Marcus, the artistic director of the Musical Stage Company spoke at the top of the second act, citing the company's focus as "making artistic creation better with music." As the audience exited the theatre, between rave reviews, I heard, "I never would have bought tickets to this on my own, but that was simply incredible." Mission accomplished, Mitchell. You have two more chances to catch UNCOVERED - you don't want to miss it.

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UNCOVERED: DYLAN & SPRINGSTEEN is presented by the Musical Stage Company with performances November 15 and 16, 2017 at 8pm at Koerner Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St. W

For more information and to buy tickets, visit musicalstagecompany.com

Photo credits: 1. Sara Farb; 2. (L-R) Anna Atkinson, Reza Jacobs, Jake Epstein, Justin Gray; 3. Melissa O'Neil

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