Saturday, April 18, 2015



The Stage Theatre: 3/27 – 4/26
     “The 12” rocks!
      It’s the best world premiere of a musical The Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company has produced. "The 12" is the musical that has evaded them through all the birthing pains of such wannabe musicals as “Sense and Sensibility,” and the recent transmogrification of Meredith Willson’s “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”
     The collaboration of Robert Schenkkan (book and lyrics) and Neil Berg (music and lyrics) together with Michael Mancini’s music direction of the above- stage band conspire to create a thunderous, ear-pleasing miracle. Enhanced by Connor Gallagher’s muscular choreography and Lap Chi Chu’s stunning lighting design, this is a powerhouse of a production.
     The effect of these artists’ collaboration with the phenomenal actors cast by director Richard Seyd allows Act One to be honed to such a pitch of perfection that this reviewer was breathless by intermission. 
     Gregory Treco(Simon), Colin Hanlon(Pete) and Christina Sajous (Mary Magdelene) turn in unforgettable performances as the apostles try to decide what’s next after their beloved Teacher’s crucifixion.
      Teacher’s grieving Mother, portrayed byJeannette Bayardelle, blows the roof off the upper room at the end of Act One with a vocal performance (“Rain”) that is quite simply soul-shattering!
     This is exactly the kind of musical that The Denver Center has been hoping for and with the right shepherding could easily have a successful run on Broadway.
     However… since the entr’acte fails to do anything but tell us the show’s about to resume and since there is no rousing dynamic number to sweep us back into the story at the top of Act Two there should be no intermission. And although Tony Vincent’s Tom is mostly well acted and sung, one sometimes has to strain to understand his ‘articulation’ of the lyrics.
     Small criticism for an otherwise mind-blowing evening of theatre!
     With just a few nips and tucks to this show, a must-have recording of “The 12” could soon fit on your shelf right next to that of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” 
     In case you missed something… I LOVED IT!


For tickets call: 303-893-4100  or go online at denvercenter.orgMarlowe's Musings

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