Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 5, 1994 TAG: 9405050142
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By KAREN L. DAVIS SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That's how guest director Kenny Ingram of Chicago describes Mill Mountain Theatre's production of ``Five Guys Named Moe,'' which previews tonight at 7:30 and opens Friday at 8 p.m. at Center in the Square.
``It's going to take Roanoke by storm,'' Ingram predicted. ``It's a foot-stompin', hand-clappin' party with stage to audience and audience to stage participation. It's a positive show. It celebrates a black American man and puts our culture in a positive spotlight.''
The show is a tribute to jazzman Louis Jordan. Because of his innovative ``jump'' style, Jordan has been acknowledged as one of the forerunners of rock 'n' roll by such names as Ray Charles and Chuck Berry.
Jordan and his combo, The Tympany Five, recorded prolifically in the 1940s. Some of Jordan's classic hits, which are featured in the stage show, include ``Saturday Night Fish Fry'' (1949), ``Choo Choo Ch'Boogie'' (1946), ``Cal'donia'' (1945) and ``Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby'' (1946). Although rooted in blues and jazz, Jordan's musical style encompassed calypso, swing, boogie, rumbas and ballads.
Even a little bit of country is evident in Mill Mountain's production of about 22 numbers, said Ingram. An all-black, all-male ensemble cast of six perform the revue written by Clarke Peters, a black American actor who lives in London.
Peters, who grew up in New York City, spent about five years developing ``Five Guys Named Moe.'' His first production of the show was a 1990 low-budget staging in a basement theater in London's East End. About a week later, mega-producer Cameron MacIntosh (known for ``Miss Saigon,'' ``Cats'' and ``Les Miserables'') discovered the show and moved it to a larger West End theater, where, in fairy-tale fashion, it became an instant hit. It won two 1991 Olivier Awards (England's equivalent of the Tony Award) for best entertainment and best choreographer. Eventually, the show made its way back to Peters' hometown for a popular Broadway run.
The show is now on national tour, and Mill Mountain Theatre is one of the first regional theaters in the country to obtain rights to the revue since it closed on Broadway, said Martha Wiese, Mill Mountain's director of marketing.
The storyline is slim and revolves around a character named No Max (played by Raun Ruffin), who, after a serious argument with his girlfriend, stays up all night bemoaning the wreckage of his life and listening to the radio. The radio show he's tuned into happens to be presenting a Louis Jordan celebration, when out of the jukebox jump the five Moes, who then proceed to school No Max in the ways of women, romance and relationships.
The five Moes, Big Moe (played by James Solomon Benn), No Moe (Antoine P. Brunson), Little Moe (McKinley Johnson), Eat Moe (Lee A. Palmer) and Four-Eyed Moe (Marshall Titus), perform onstage for the full two acts, Ingram said.
Ingram, who took a leave of absence from his role in the national tour of ``Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'' to direct and choreograph the Mill Mountain production, played Little Moe at the Candlelight Playhouse in Chicago.
The key to a successful production, he said, is how well the cast members mesh.
``It's a show of unity, and the men's personalities have to gel, because they never leave the stage,'' he said.
Costumes are by guest designer Robert Croghan from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Sets and lighting are by John Sailer, Mill Mountain's resident designer. A six-piece orchestra is directed by David Caldwell.
``Five Guys Named Moe'' runs through May 29 and is guaranteed to ``truly take your troubles away,'' Ingram said, at least for about 90 minutes. ``People will probably want to come back.''
``Five Guys Named Moe'' onstage at Mill Mountain Theatre, Center in the Square, downtown Roanoke. For reservations, call the box office, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, 342-5740. A credit card is required for phone reservations.
by CNB