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Brigadoon
– A Special Report --
High School Drama has changed since my day. Take a look at this spring musical, involving dozens of students in all the activities connected with difficult technical productions, and you'll see what I mean.
If the Connecticut Critics gave awards for high school productions (we don’t), I’d be nominating this officially. As it is I’m nominating it unofficially and giving it the Ridgelea Reports Award of Merit, and sending congratulations to all who are involved.
The production of Lerner and Loewe’s “Brigadoon” at New Canaan High School March 13 to 15 was one more example of the superb quality of the dramatic arts programs available to students and families in our schools. Eighty-some students and community members were in the company and the orchestra. The organization of people and materials and skills and talent can only be matched, I suppose, by the intensity of the experience that will surely be remembered for years into the future by the wonderful group on stage, behind stage, and around it.
“Brigadoon” is the mythical story of a village in the highlands of Scotland that has been pulled out of the irritating progress of the world, sleeping for one hundred years from each day to the next. Two friends from New York on a hunting trip stumble into it on the day of Charlie Dalrymple’s wedding to Jeannie MacLaren They find a happy village market and a mysterious tale, but more than that, Tommy Albright finds a new answer to his private search for meaning when he meets and falls in love with Fiona MacLaren. Harry Beaton, desperate because he also wanted to be the groom for Jeannie, tries to kill Charlie, and regretfully falls and dies before the day ends safely one more time. After returning to New York, Tommy comes back to the highlands and succeeds in claiming a place within the sleeping village. No story has captured the elements of the personal search for happiness more completely than “Brigadoon.” It was immediately awarded, in 1947, the title of “best play”, which had never been given to a musical before, by drama critics, and it launched the career of Lerner and Loewe, who went on to collaborate again for “My Fair Lady.” It’s easy to admire the cast members in New Canaan, each well chosen and talented. Taylor Larson’s Tommy was marvelous, and Tim Beck’s Jeff was wry and precise. Jackie Dickson’s Fiona was wonderful, and Abigail Schwarz’ Jeannie was beautifully danced and sung. Daniella Covino’s Meg was sung with vigor and lots of comic power. Jim Kahmann’s Charlie was great, and Connor Dwyer’s Harry was terrific. His dancing, with Corinne Littlefield, was flawless, and Corinne’s dancing was particularly fine throughout, culminating with the haunting funeral dance for Harry with Stephanie Moore’s pipes in the background. David Himmel’s Archie Beaton was well done and always in character. Courtney Stevenson’s Mistress Lundie was powerful, although the change from Mr. Lundie, as written, added a curious perspective to the story. All the remainder of the large company were also excellent, dancing and singing in great production numbers.