The Bremen Musicians- Adapted and Directed by Nicholas Allen
- Music by John Milosich
- Produced by Classika Theatre
- Reviewed by Hunter Kieserman
I was very excited to see the world premiere of the musical The Bremen Musicians at Classika Theater. I was familiar with the popular folktal, the story of a Donkey whose only goal in life is to be a musician so he decides to travel to the city of Bremen to become a musician. On his way to Bremen, he encounters a worn out hunting dog, a scared cat, and a cocky rooster who join him on his journey to Bremen to become musicians as well. The production was fantastic.
The brilliant adaptation by Nicholas Allen could not have been done better. The quality of the direction and creativity matched the talent of the phenomenal cast who all carried the show with their a cappella singing. The set consisted of a simple design of three double sided rolling panels that had a stone wall on one side while the other side had a tree on it. It was fairly simple while at the same time allowed the audience to use their imaginations.
The five member cast showed their vocal prowess with beautiful harmonies and playful melodies. The cast members, Jessie Dulaney as Dog, Elizabeth Parsons as Cat, Kyle Schliefer as Rooster, Amanda Thickpenny as Everyman (various characters) and Jason Wilson as Donkey, were each allowed to shine in their own individual songs while the others provided vocal accompaniment. The intricate costumes designed by Evgenia Salazar exaggerated the key features of the animal and helped capture attention
The show was completely enjoyable for all ages. The sold-out audience was primarily made up of guests attending Natalie and Juliet’s birthday parties but had other parents and other children attending as well. Kids were delighted to see this imaginative and fun production. It was one of those rare children’s shows that parents can find enjoyable too. If you have small children, I suggest that you join these animals on their journey to Bremen.
Running Time: 45 minutes with no intermission.
When: Through March 16th
Where: Classika Theatre, 4041 Campbell Avenue in Arlington, VA.
Tickets: $12.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door.
Info: Call 703-824-6200 or visit the website http://www.classika.org/
This reviewer recommends: ages 3-7.