Review: The Sixties Are Alive and Rocking With WOODSTOCK at Signature

The sixties are alive and rocking at Signature Theatre with the latest addition to their cabaret series: Woodstock.

Celebrating the seminal, three-day, August 1969 music festiVal May seem like an odd choice for one of DC's leading musical theatre companies. It was, after all, rock music which bumped Broadway from Top 40 radio in the sixties.

And yet, this cabaret feels like a natural choice. Woodstock Guru Sri Swami Satchidananda opened the festival by declaring it a celebration of 'the fine art of music' - which is exactly what the Woodstock cabaret is about. Mixing nostalgia with soulful energy, passionate vocals, a rocking set list and an electric band, Woodstock is sure to generate peace, joy and love amongst the audience.

Woodstock's features a mix of songs that were either performed at or inspired by the festival. It's a who's who of music legends including: Chuck Berry, Jefferson Airplane (before they became the Starship), Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Whereas the actual festival had 32 acts, Signature's cabaret is led by the trio of Maria Egler, Vincent Kempski and the radiant Nora Palka. All of whom strive to pay tribute to the artists while also making the songs their own.

Palka injects a remarkable level of depth into her performance and is easily the evening's standout. She gives Joan Baez's "The Last Thing on My Mind" and Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee" tremendous feeling, but also channels the great storytelling ability of each artist. Her performance is a great homage to the folk and rock singers of that era.

Egler channels the rock feeling with mixed success. While she's commanding with the show's finale "Volunteers" by Jefferson Airplane, it vocally takes her a while to get the intensity necessary to succeed with Joplin's "Piece of My Heart." She does, however, frequently provide the context and history behind the evening's selections, providing the cabaret with structure between songs.

Kempski, who also plays guitar throughout the evening, has the widest range of artists to cover including The Who and Joe Cocker. It can be an overwhelming task, but he succeeds with great skill. His performance of "With A Little Help By My Friends" not only channels Cocker's soulfulness, but also gives it a youthful feel.

Joining the trio onstage is an electric four piece band led by Dave Murray on drums and Bill Hones on bass. Part of Woodstock's allure is that the band is able to breakaway and just rock. With the intimacy of Signature's Shen space, you feel every chord.

Walter Ware conceived and directed the evening, which was an inspired choice for this cabaret. If there is one criticism, it's that the evening was too short. The talent onstage, led by Palka, along with the concept could have easily been expanded into a concert. Folk and rock music of the Woodstock era was famous for its ability to tell a story, something Signature is well-experienced with. This rocking cabaret was a natural selection for the Shirlington-based company, and it's no surprise that they succeeded in delivering an enjoyable evening.

Runtime: 70 minutes with no intermission.

Woodstock runs thru October 15th at Signature Theatre - 4200 Campbell Ave. Arlington, Virginia 22206. For tickets please call (703) 820-9771 or click here.

Photo Credit: Signature Theatre

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