Parade

If you read the Wikipedia entry for Parade you are presented with a very perfunctory analysis of this thought-provoking musical.  “Parade is a musical with a book by Alfred Uhry and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. The musical is a dramatization of the 1913 trial and imprisonment, and 1915 lynching, of Jewish American Leo Frank in Georgia”.  While an accurate statement of the facts, this summary fails to tell you of the powerful narrative and strength of musical score that Parade brings with it, and both elements were accentuated by The Cast throughout their production tonight.
 

The Cast are a unique company in my experience having a completely fluid team for each production with all participants being invited to perform by the Producer.  So once again Parade had a mixture of new and old “faces” in both the acting cast and production team which, as always, brought a freshness to the production.  

 

Although this is a relatively large (25) character production, at its core were the central performances of Chris Grantham and Sara Evans-Bolger as Leo and Lucille Frank.  Chris was virtually never off stage and managed to develop Leo, through apparently effortless song and acting, from a supercilious and unsympathetic factory manager into the victim of political power plays and the lynch mob that were then inspired to his murder.  Sara, showed a great lightness of touch in her characterisation of Lucille.  It is a role that would have been very easy to overact, but Sara managed to be believable at all times and her vocal work was outstanding throughout the night bringing warmth, apprehension and an obvious love for Leo in every scene they delivered together.

 

Chris and Sara were very ably assisted in driving the narrative forward by the other excellent members of The Cast including Emma Lowe as the innocent Mary Phagan, Emily Corner, Anna McAuley and Sian Scattergood as the “Greek Chorus” of accusers whose ‘Me Too’ stories of unwanted attention from Leo, in this case unlike many others today, vapourised under the slightest scrutiny.  Desrick Francis brough great energy and heart to his characterisation of Jim Conley with Producer Rob Corner delivering a fine cameo performance as the “Old Soldier”.

 

Kathryn McAuley, Emma Weir, Melfia Ballin, Cat Prescott and Sasha Cornelius all made essential contributions to the narrative as did Jarrod Makin as the mob pleasing Governor of the state who finally realises he cannot deny the fact of the case.  Graham Buchanan shone as the manipulative Hugh Dosey.  Adam Guest was his usual excellent self as the reluctant Judge Roan, Rob Chilton as Britt Craig the newspaper reporter always looking for a story to sell his newspapers, facts or no facts, and Arden-Caspar Jennison was impressive as the prison warder who slowly developed respect and sympathy for Leo and Lucille Frank.  Matt McAuley, Neil Ledders, Phil Deakin and Jake Gelernter completed the excellent cast along with Charlotte Howarth, Becky Morley and Phillipa Buchanan.

 

A complex story of religious and North/South bigotry no doubt, but one that was effectively brought to life by the production team of Beth, Kim-Louise, Martin, Emily and Rob.  The staging was simple yet effective throughout resulting in rapid scene changes which helped to keep the pace of the narrative moving.  The sound was effective throughout the night and the balance between stage and band was perfect, ensuring that the diction and story-telling came across to all audience members.  The musical and vocal performances were another highlight thanks to the work that Martin must have done in the rehearsal room and lighting was appropriately minimalistic and sympathetic to the production throughout.  Congratulations to all concerned and I look forward to the next incarnation of The Cast.

 

Martin Holtom

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.