By D. A. Blackburn
The revolution will not be televised, but if you're anywhere in Southeast Michigan, it will unfold on a stage near you. "Patty Hearst: The New Musical," the latest offering of the currently nomadic Blackbird Theatre, will grace two area stages – the Shaut Gallery and Cabaret in Ann Arbor and the Boll Family YMCA in Detroit – making one of the spring season's most intriguing and unique world premiere productions accessible to the masses.
The musical, written, composed and directed by the Blackbird's founding artistic director Barton Bund (also a regular contributor to EncoreMichigan.com), chronicles the disturbingly unusual story of heiress Patty Hearst, who, in 1974, was abducted in a failed extortion attempt by a group of California radicals known as the Symbionese Liberation Army. Hearst notoriously became sympathetic to the group's cause, and was eventually tried in connection to various crimes perpetrated by the SLA.
To this day, the question remains: Was she history's highest profile victim of Stockholm Syndrome, or merely the picture of privilege turned revolutionary by a group of impoverished and misguided radicals?
Bund's production is a genuinely unique offering — a fine blend of comedy and history, which covers a great deal of ground without ever taking itself too seriously. Musically, "Patty Hearst" draws heavily from 1970s-era funk and pop to set a decidedly intense background. Bund's lyrics are, likewise, fairly light, but deliver a potent message. And throughout its three acts, the production manages to produce more than a few catchy, memorable tunes.
Where "Patty Hearst" falters musically is in the casting, as performers uniformly lack the musicality to keep things moving forward on pitch.
But that said, opening night did yield a few shining moments of vocal competence, and Bund's appealing musical vision for the work is consistently apparent. Specifically, his ensemble numbers reveal a deep, thoughtful reverence to the production's musical influences as well as the messages the songs convey.
Though vocally imperfect, the Blackbird's large cast is genuinely satisfying in other respects. The acting is quite good, with Jamie Weeder and Christopher Joseph turning in the production's most memorable performances as Patty Hearst and Cinque, respectively. Gayle Martin's Yolanda and Steven O'Brien's Teko, too, leave a fine impression for their intensity in very colorful characterizations.
Bund's direction keeps the work moving at a steady, brisk clip, and coupled with his script, succeeds in illustrating the Stockholm Syndrome theory in a very powerful way. Despite the gruff language and radical world views of his SLA characters, they are easily likeable, and equally easy to empathize with, though their motivations and cause could be more deeply explored.
Choreography by Brian Carbine is also a highlight of the Blackbird's "Patty Hearst," and across the board, performers navigate his intricate and energetic blocking with grace — no small task, given the extreme spatial limitations of the Shaut Gallery. Nestled in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown district, the gallery is an exceptionally intimate space for this type of production, and while the Blackbird has managed to make it work, the show's move to the roomier stage in Detroit will likely benefit all involved.
This is specifically true for lighting designer Gwen Lindsay, who has been greatly limited by the space, and as such, forced to light the work in what feel like all-or-nothing extremes.
While "Patty Hearst: The New Musical" is not a finely polished gem in its current form, the work makes for a very engaging evening of theater. It is funny, intense and overflowing with the type of creative energy that ensures a future for a new work. Cast to showcase its music a bit more effectively, this production would definitely be must-see theater. But even as is, it's well worth a look.
REVIEW:
'Patty Hearst: The New Musical'
Blackbird Theatre at the Shaut Gallery and Cabaret, 325 Braun Ct., Ann Arbor, Through June 3-12; then Boll Family YMCA Theatre, 1401 Broadway St., Detroit, June 17-26. Contains language, violence, sexuality and adult content for mature audiences only. No one under 17 will be admitted. $10-$20. 734-332-3848. http://www.blackbirdtheatre.org
