Another Mark Twain Musical and It's at the Round House

My only regret is I didn't write this review earlier because I want as many theater-goers as possible to see this fun, fun musical at Bethesda's Round House Theatre. You only have until June 25 to see this terrific, funny musical….so get up, get out of bed, and head to Bethesda for one of the best new musicals of the season.

 

 

 

The final production of this season at the Round House is "A Murder, A Mystery, & A Marriage: A Mark Twain Musical Melodrama" (how will that look in lights?). This fun and folksy musical produced in association with the Delaware Theatre Company will put a smile on your face and entertain you. What more can one ask for?

 

 The latest Mark Twain musical on Broadway (2001) was "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" starring Joshua Park (about to play the title role in "Pippin" at the Goodspeed Opera House on July 24) and Kristen Bell (television's "Veronica Mars" and possibly Sophie in the "Mamma Mia" film?). I thoroughly enjoyed it yet it only last 21 performances. Twain in 1876 just finished "Sawyer" when in two days he wrote "A Murder, A Mystery, and a Marriage" but it was not until 1930, twenty years after his death, that it resurfaced in the papers of an English bookseller and it was the Atlantic Monthly that published its first two chapters but the story needed a conclusion. It was not until 2001 that the complete story was first published.

 

 Well, playwright and director Aaron Posner, after seeing a performance of a jug band, got this idea. With the help of composer James Sugg, who had collaborated with Posner on a country-western inspired version of Shakespeare's "As You Like It",  they have put together a delightful blue-grass musical experience.

 

 Even if you don't like bluegrass music, you will love this. This is by no means "The Grand Olde Opry". 

Playing the role of the narrator Clem (as in Samuel L. Clemens) is the wonderful Dan Manning. Manning returns to the Round House after playing M. Duval in "Camille". I've been impressed with him twice in Baltimore: first in the Everyman's production of "Jacques Brel" and at Center Stage in "The Murder of Isaac". He has a ball in this role playing the guitar, harmonica, and mandolin.

 

Scott Greer plays the "Mysterious Stranger" and if you saw the Broadway musical "The Woman in White", Greer could easily have played the role of  Count Fosco played by Michael Ball. His phony French accent with accompanying mustache…well, he's a great villain.

 

Erin Weaver is the femme fatale and nails it. Ben Dibble is her love interest and the two of them work beautifully together.  Anthony Lawton and Sherri Edelen bring great comic timing in the roles attempting to find the right suitor for their daughter. Thomas Adrian Simpson (previously in the Round House production of "The Weir" is a delight.

 

 Tony Cisek's great design adds a great feel and texture. The stage looks like it's right out of "Gunsmoke" with the revolving door leading to the saloon.

 

 A special mention to the onstage quartet of terrific musicians: Christopher Youstra (piano, accordion), Jay Ansil (violin, mandolin, and guitar), Yusef Chisolm (bass) and on banjo, Dan Mazer (BanjerDan) who even has his own web site – www.banjerdan.com.  They are fabulous.

 

 Needless to say, you will have a ball. You only have until June 25  so call NOW and get tickets. Call 240-644-1100 or go to www.roundhousetheatre.org.

  A recommendation for dinner in Bethesda: "Mon Ami Gabi". It is located at 7239 Woodmont Ave., phone 301-654-1234...a lovely French bistro. Ask for an outside table on the side of the restaurant, much more quieter than tables on Woodmont Ave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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