Christine Dwyer and Cast Photo by Diane Sobolewski

Mary Francis Moore directed Maggie in Canada and she is now pivotal in pulling this two hour presentation together, one which allows actress Christine Dwyer, as the title character, to grasp and honor the spotlight through many of her numbers.

The story, which begins in Scotland in 1954, finds Maggie, as a single mother, faced with raising three sons. At the outset, two of the boys are not yet five and she is pregnant with the third. When the action shifts to 1968, the boys are now young men. Shug (Jeffrey Kringer) has problems, Tommy (Wes Williams) ends up in prison, and intellectual Wee Jimmy (Sam Primack) ultimately is the one who finds the woman he will marry. The action occurs in the town of Lanark and a trio including Betty (Terra C. MacLeod), Sadie (Sophia Clarke), and Jean (Kennedy Caughell) make certain, early on, that everyone watching is paying attention. Maggie and the trio of ladies combine on "Friday Night in Lanark." They follow with a moving ballad, "Unbreakable."

It comes as no surprise that Christine Dwyer, who has significant vocal range, has been elsewhere cast as Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked. She brings poise, presence, compassion, and vocal dexterity to Goodspeed Musicals. Her Maggie shines with others and, during the first act, on solos such as "Right by You," and the soulful, meaningful "Confession."

Beowulf Boritt's set features a rear floor-to-ceiling stone wall and several wooden chairs. As they plot unfolds, actors slide in whatever is necessary. Johnny Reid and Matt Murray wrote the book and lyrics for Maggie, and these two men combined with Bob Foster to compose the music. Adam Souza is musical director, while Foster provides music supervision and orchestration. Emily Rebholz's costumes are a plus as they augment various circumstances.

Maggie is politically relevant at a time when the local mine might have to shut down. Additionally, there's a fair portion of tension involving Protestants and Catholics. The musical finds balance as it moves from the intimately personal to more vivacious scenes, such as a dance around laundry when the women jump around the stage–this is just fun!

Choreographer EJ Boyle is imaginative with movement on numbers such as "Livin' It Up." These scenes require energy and physical ability. The Goodspeed cast (inclusive of ensemble members) is fully disciplined and precise throughout. These adept individuals must be working quite hard even as they make specific dance sequences appear to be easily accomplished.

Christine Dwyer presents a memorable Maggie. She attended The Hartt School in Hartford and absolutely shines in her role, which she fills with bonafide emotion. Maggie is multi-dimensional, since she must be strong to survive but demonstrate a vulnerable self, too. Dwyer is a gifted musical performer who is stirring as the leading lady.

The creators supply some romance, comic occasion, and subplot as well. Throw in a bit, for good measure, of stereotype like Uncle Charles (Ryan Duncan).

The women in Maggie evolve as the story moves from 1954 into the mid-1970s. Sadie, Jean and Betty are ever more spirited and quite animated as they add spice and humor to the performance. Scotland's economic situation during the 1960s and into the 1970s was not great; people were struggling. All of the women, including Maggie, need to find reason to hope.

Maggie runs through October 20, 2024, at Goodspeed Musicals, 6 Main St., East Haddam CT. For tickets and information, please call 860-873-8668 or visit Goodspeed.org.