Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 16, 1994 TAG: 9404160038
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By KAREN L. DAVIS SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The play opened in New York City in 1970 and is a tuneful adaptation of the Bette Davis film, "All About Eve." Music was written by Charles Strouse, who also composed harmonies for "Annie," "Bye, Bye Birdie" and "Charlotte's Web." Lee Adams wrote the lyrics.
The story centers on Margo Channing (played by Diana Salyer-Kyle), a fading, aging Broadway star, and a younger rival starlet, Eve Harrington (played by Robbin Nuckolls). Deceptive and manipulative, Eve poses as an adoring fan to gain a meeting with Margo in the star's dressing room. Soon, she becomes Margo's trusted secretary, winning friends and influencing theater people, until eventually she gets to audition as Margo's understudy.
Eve's influence is so persuasive that the playwright's wife, Karen Richards (Becca Godsey), arranges to delay Margo from making an important appearance. Of course, Eve, as understudy, steps into the role and becomes an overnight sensation. However, Eve soon learns that stardom demands a high price for applause.
This show business story deserves a little more glitz and glamour than the Showtimers' production can deliver with its limited-budget sets, lighting and costumes. However, musical numbers are reasonably entertaining. Voices are average, and lyrics are more often recited than sung. The overall effect is lukewarm, when it should be really hot and spicy.
Tom Miller as Bill Sampson, Margo's lover, demonstrates a good voice in his solo, "Think How It's Gonna Be." Salyer-Kyle, who pursued a professional acting career in New York, does several nice solos, including "Something Greater" and "Welcome to the Theatre." The two performers play off each other particularly well in their anger-filled lovers' spats scenes. Miller and Salyer-Kyle work in Roanoke for the law firm of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, where he is a lawyer and she is a legal secretary.
In Act I, Nuckolls convincingly portrays Eve as an innocent, naive, homegrown girl-next-door type. In Act II, her character becomes even more interesting as she unveils her deceptive qualities and attempts to take over Margo's territory, onstage and offstage. Nuckolls teaches third-grade at Christiansburg Elementary School.
Jim Adams provides some comic relief in his stereotypical rendition of the gay hairdresser, Duane Fox. Adams makes his Showtimers' debut with this show.
Other cast and chorus members include Gene Galvin, Steve Stinson, Barbara Burnett, Joe Cunningham, Dale Johnson, Kelly Creamer, Laura McFadyen, Kevin Ritz, Jerry Sweeten, Stephanie Crebo, Kathleen Kennedy, Lori Ann Sallade, Sarah Shivers, Jackie Volf and Angie Wilson.
Diane A. Maher, staff accompanist for Hollins College, provides musical direction. The band consists of Maher on piano, Dan Keeley on synthesizer and Kevin Shepherd on drums. Most of the time, the band is heard offstage, but in some village bar and restaurant scenes, the instruments are incorporated into the sets.
"Applause," directed by Jeff Berger, continues at Showtimers' McVitty Road Studio through April 24. Performances take place Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $9 for adults and $4 for students. For reservations call the box office at 774-2660.
by CNB