From Metro Weekly - March 30, 2006

War Torn

The revival of 'Shenandoah' is a colorful musical treat

by Jolene Munch
Published on 03/30/2006

It's hard to get excited about a musical set during the American Civil War, no matter how close we live to the battlegrounds. It's well-trod territory in musical theater land, and it takes the name recognition of Scott Bakula (Star Trek: Enterprise, Quantum Leap) to command serious attention in Shenandoah, a revival of the 1975 Tony-winning show at Ford's Theatre.

Reminiscent of a young Mandy Patinkin, Bakula stars as Charlie Anderson, patriarch of a rural Virginia family caught in the clutches of the Civil War. Things are getting hairy over at the Andersons' farm, where the widowed father refuses to allow his sons to get involved in the fighting. Inevitably the clan is forced into drawing some very fine battle lines, and soldiers are no longer the only ones fighting for their lives.

Directed by Jeff Calhoun, Shenandoah walks a fine line between sweet and saccharine, never quite achieving the emotional potency of the director's sublime Big River, produced at Ford's last season. Laced with lovely harmonies and gymnastic choreography, Shenandoah features meaningful stage pictures and a full orchestra led by Steven Landau with lush new arrangements for its country-roots score.

With his scraggly hair and humble farmer duds, you actually believe Bakula is the tough and tenderhearted Pa of yesteryear. He delivers his solos with effortless and earnest conviction. As youngest son Robert, Kevin Clay all but steals the show, and Megan Lewis and Garrett Long are both fantastic as the Anderson girls, delivering a flirty ''Over the Hill'' and the floating lilt of ''We Make a Beautiful Pair.'' And while he never gets to show off his superior dancing skills, Noah Racey is adorable as a nervous soldier courting Anderson's daughter.

Shenandoah manages to be a colorful treat anchored by a personal examination of our national history.

Copyright © 2006 Metro Weekly

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