Asheville – Charming, dark, provocative, laugh-out-loud funny, and, of course, wonderfully lyrical, Asheville Community Theatre’s production of Bright Star (the musical written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell) will most certainly sell out.
Filled with heartbreak and melancholy, wonder and whimsy, it is passionately delivered by a supremely skilled cast.
And, while I expected the narrative to be a quaint, lovely homage to the mountain towns of North Carolina a century ago, I was so very wrong in my assumption.
Quirky in its nostalgia? Yes. Brimming with delightful characters? Absolutely. Filled with wonderfully memorable songs? Of course.
But this was not the even-tempered, safe “love story” I had envisioned. There was so much more to it than that.
Set in multiple locations, including Asheville, NC, this is an oftentimes mournful tale spanning over 20 years and tearing apart the hearts of the audience in the process.
It is predominantly told through the life of Alice, effortlessly played by Maddison McMahan. Her deft and total transition from the giddy and silly teenage Alice to the devastatingly shattered Alice to the reserved Alice, encapsulated in a self-protective shell… Maddison’s performance was inspired and flawless.
We are transported through those decades with the assistance of expert costume designer Ida Bostian. Her attention to detail and eye for the whimsical made this vintage fashion lover swoon with every wardrobe change, which includes one that happens onstage… and yet, not in view.
At this point, I should remind the reader that spoilers are not in my nature, and this show has quite a few. It has been difficult to not learn anything about this musical, which had 30 previews, 109 performances on Broadway, and a national tour. And while the plot is not an exact retelling, Bright Star is based on an unusual true story.
Director Mark Jones spun that tale like a whirling top by choreographing every movement, down to the smallest details. Set pieces by the always ingenious Jillian Summers were often danced on and off the stage. Atmosphere was created not only by the luminescent brain of lighting designer Abby Auman but also by Jones’ stunning recreation of fireflies.
Many of the director’s choices were contrary to what has been done previously for this show, including the creative ways he made it more family-friendly. While the more risqué parts are still included, they are done without the somewhat salacious aspects of the Broadway performances. And they are accomplished with the same magical ambiance that is woven throughout.
Among Jones’ directorial decisions were including a live eight-piece band onstage and the addition of nine extra actors.
“I have all the people onstage for a lot of the show… I call them “storytellers” because they’re telling the story. It’s okay if they’re sitting there watching what’s going on because they all know the story. This is Alice’s story, and they’re telling it from the get-go.” Jones explained.
Their inclusion and role as storytellers created yet another layer to this lush and, at times, ethereal musical. Not merely sitting and watching; they reacted in much the same way I did. Reflecting sorrow, joy, ambition, and understanding of the tragedy and tenderness dancing around before their eyes. Mirroring everything I was feeling, and somehow bringing me more into the performance.
Another inventive choice was to have singers in two of the songs utilize ASL (American Sign Language) as part of their choreography.
The Saturday, May 6th performance will be entirely interpreted in ASL, and the shows on April 29th and 30th will offer Descriptive Audio for the Sight Impaired (DASI).
While I will not delve into all the actors and their superb vocal skills, partly because I do not want to give anything away and partly because there are twenty-five in total, I am confident that you will fall in love with many of them and will want to remember their names so you can see every performance they do in the future.
It’s my wish that everyone who has the opportunity will see this beautifully engaging show.
And almost as much as that wish… I truly hope that I can see it again.
Bright Star runs through May 14, 2023. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.