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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Sleepy Hollow Also see Gil's reviews of Anastasia, Mrs. Doubtfire and 'Night Mother
The plot of the musical, with book by Vera Morris and music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur, sticks fairly close to Irving's work. Ichabod Crane, a superstitious and awkward schoolteacher, moves to the quiet village of Sleepy Hollow. He becomes enchanted by the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel and competes for her affection against the brawny local, Brom Bones. As Ichabod navigates village life, he hears tales of the mysterious Headless Horseman, a ghostly figure said to haunt the area. One fateful night, after leaving a party at Katrina's home, Ichabod has a chilling encounter that changes everything, leaving the town questioning the truth behind the local legend. Morris' book hits all of the major plot points in Irving's story and, while Francoeur's tunes may not be entirely memorable, they do feature several fun numbers as well as a few that are more on the spooky side. Aaron Blanco's direction plays up the comedy in the script and never truly lets the eerie moments get too frightening, which works well for a show aimed at a family audience. Lauren Kobza's choreography is varied, bright, fun, and danced well by the large cast. James Melberg's music direction delivers lovely vocals from the very large cast. Día de los Muertos is a traditional fiesta in honor of the deceased that is celebrated in Mexico, other parts of Latin America, and also in the U.S. Southwest just after Halloween, so having all of the Sleepy Hollow inhabitants' faces painted with the vibrant colors and designs associated with Día de los Muertos, with Ichabod the only character whose face isn't painted, ties into the holiday while adding a nice local touch to the production. It also perfectly paints Ichabod as the outsider to the town and its residents. Ellie Lagergren created the make-up and her designs are wonderful. The set design also leans into Día de los Muertos with the large houses in Sleepy Hollow using the same color scheme as the make-up designs with a few scenic elements that are appropriately dark and foreboding. The cast all create fun characters and deliver strong performances, bringing a mixture of humor, fear, and romance to their roles. Westley Armbrust portrays Ichabod with a blend of charm and vulnerability, making him a sympathetic figure even if we know he's overly ambitious with courting Katrina for her land. Armbrust has good comic chops and great facial expressions that get big laughs as this foppish fellow. As Katrina, Madeline Armistead is appropriately headstrong, independent and fearless, making the character more deep than just the traditional love interest of rivals Ichabod and Bones. As Brom Bones, Carter Hurlburt is sinister but also humorous, creating a character that you love to hate. Bryghton Patrick-Blanco and Jolee Casey are spunky and fun, delivering a wonderful duet of "A Man of Means," and Semaj Morgan, Alyson Avery, and Skyler Morris shine as other senior townsfolk of Sleepy Hollow. Nora Bermudez, Jaya Myers, and Greyson Tuttle are the comical sidekicks and friends of Katrina and Brom Bones, with all three being impressive comics. The remainder of the large cast are all quite good, with lovely performances from some of the younger cast members who play the students Ichabod teaches. While Sleepy Hollow doesn't deviate far from the original story, it effectively adds many moments of comedy to the story so that the themes of fear and superstition aren't too frightful for young audience members. With strong performances, sharp comic direction, and a serviceable score, East Valley Children's Theatre's production offers fans of the classic tale, Halloween, and musical comedy, a fun theatrical outing. Sleepy Hollow, a production of East Valley Children's Theatre, runs through September 29, 2024, at Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main St, Mesa AZ. For tickets and information, please visit https://evct.org or call 480-644-6500 Book by Vera Morris Cast: (in alphabetical order) |
