Beyond The Rainbow Production Info

Beyond The Rainbow

PRODUCTION PHOTOS

Beyond The Rainbow Photography by Julie Curry

(left to right: Katy Gentry, Bradley Reynolds *, Jody Briskey)

(L to R: Bradley Reynolds * and Chuck Goad *)

( Jody Briskey)

(Left to right: Chuck Goad *, Denise Jaeckle, Kennedy Martin, Jody Briskey)

(Left to right: Denise Jaeckle, Jody Briskey, Chuck Goad *, Katy Gentry, Bradley Reynolds*)

(Jody Briskey)

REVIEWS

July 8, 2007

Garland tribute an honest treat

By Whitney Smith whitney.smith@indystar.com

July 8, 2007

In time, even the most famous American pop culture icons can fade from public view.

Take Judy Garland, one of the best-known singers and actresses of her day. Thirty-eight years after her death, she is still recognized for "The Wizard of Oz," but not so much for other famous milestones and infamous mishaps -- such as her 1940s movie "Meet Me in St. Louis," her multiple marriages or her battles with alcohol and drugs.

However, the History Theatre, based in Garland's native Minnesota, has paid homage to her vivid voice and resilient spirit, while pulling no punches about her personal life in "Beyond the Rainbow," a dark musical that Actors Theatre of Indiana is presenting through July 15 at Pike Performing Arts Center.

Jody Briskey's finesse with Garland's signature songs is the show's most obvious selling point. But as with Garland, there's more to this show than meets the ear.

Author William Randall Beard devised a fun setting at Garland's 1961 Carnegie Hall "comeback" concert. The 38-year-old Garland smokes and knocks back shots at a makeup mirror before coming out to bark, serenade or dazzle the crowd with 27 of her signature songs and less-familiar standards.

At Friday's opening performance, my favorites were "Be A Clown," "The Trolley Song," "Stormy Weather" and "Over the Rainbow," sung seated at the edge of the stage.

Around Garland's booming voice Beard built a complex backstory, starting with Garland's (aka Frances Gumm's) parents, Frank and Ethel Gumm. The tale moved on to Garland's bittersweet relationship with movie mogul Louis B. Mayer and husbands Sid Luft and Vincente Minnelli.

Beard's smartest trick was to have the mature Garland chat with earlier versions of herself: a young adult played by Katy Gentry, and a cute child portrait by Kennedy Martin.

Such an intimate show might play better in a small, cabaret-style theater, but director Don Farrell makes "Beyond the Rainbow" work in a 1,450-seat house.

Garland was known for her big sound, vibrato and emotional phrasing, and Briskey played up all three. Briskey also obsesses over Garland's ticks and slurred speech, making several songs seem way too similar.

Gentry's Judy was exceptionally fine. Early on, her speaking voice was suggestive of a young Garland in "Wizard of Oz," then the character darkened as the addictions deepened.

Denise Jaeckel's portrayal of gossip columnist Hedda Hopper was delightfully snooty, in contrast to Jaeckel's earthy Ethel Gumm.

There was less nuance in the pushy, controlling qualities that Charles Goad brought to Mayer and Luft. Bradley Reynolds added softer touches to Minnelli.

Beyond the Rainbow
by Josefa Beyer Jul 11, 2007
Four Stars
Actor’s Theatre of Indiana; directed by Don Farrell; Pike Performing Arts Center

Do retro musical revues make good theater? ATI revived Frank Sinatra, the Andrews Sisters and Rosemary Clooney in its first two seasons and now continues the trend with Beyond the Rainbow, a re-creation of Judy Garland’s 1961 Carnegie Hall comeback performance, written by William Randall Beard.

At first, Jody Briskey’s incarnation of the 47-year-old Garland seems like mere caricature, but with every song we remember that Garland was an endlessly captivating caricature: big soulful eyes, fluttering hands and a tremulous voice that knew your woes and a whole world of trouble. Throughout the “concert,” Garland’s hurtful past whispers from the wings and then takes center stage, as her parents bicker and Louis B. Mayer verbally abuses her younger self, played and sung equally well by Katy Gentry.

Like the genius Garland was, Briskey wrenches the irony out of ballads crooned for cads (“Do It Again”), imbues silly songs with a bitter vengeance (“Be a Clown”) and invokes the neurotic self-pity of a woman choosing her own doom again and again (“Alone Together”). Although I’m tempted to cast all theatrical retreads in the same complacent light, I cannot dismiss Rainbow. It has its share of biopic hysterics, but succeeds in giving us insight into the woman behind the icon. Most importantly, Briskey proves that some performers’ talents emerge even as they strive to be the best of somebody else.

Through July 15; 317-216-5455.

—Josefa Beyer

BEYOND THE RAINBOW

Melissa Mayer
The Daily Sun
222 W. South St.
Lebanon, IN 46052
www.dailysun.org
Phone: (765) 482-3333
or (317) 873-2333
Fax: (765) 482-1333

Judy Garland is an iconic figure. She's revered as one of the most talented performers of all time. Countless scores of people have seen and cherished her performances in films like "The Wizard of Oz" and "A Star is Born." But for anyone curious about what lies behind Garland's beautiful music, "Beyond the Rainbow" is a must see.

The Actors Theatre of Indiana's latest show, Beyond the Rainbow recreates Judy Garland's famous 1961 concert at Carnegie Hall — while onstage at the Pike Performing Arts Center in northwest Indianapolis. The production includes three separate Judys; the youngest played by Kennedy Martin, the 38-year-old Garland singing at Carnegie, and a third who plays Garland from her teens through her early 30s. Each actress helps shape the whole picture of Garland's troubled life.

Jody Briskey plays the eldest Garland. Briskey originated the role for Beyond the Rainbow in 2005 and has performed it at many venues in the United States. Briskey nails each wobbly pitch in Garland's well-known style, mimicking the mannerisms of Garland in her later days. She seems to channel Garland's tremulous voice as she belts out famous songs like "Stormy Weather" and "Swanee."

The show revolves around the concert, but Garland's haunting memories of her life unfold on the stage while Briskey performs. The oldest Garland provides the soundtrack to her own life as she sees the painful steps that brought her to that famous Carnegie performance. Her childhood and rise to fame were built upon the unstable foundation of pressure, pills and the constant criticism of the public's eye.

Katy Gentry does an amazing job as she takes on the role of the middle Garland, covering around 20 years of the performer's life. Along with outstanding vocals during each song, Gentry manages to capture Garland's tone of voice and vulnerability. Gentry begins as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed novice and slowly morphs into a jaded addict overcome with loneliness and the pressure to please everyone. Yet throughout the transformation, Gentry never loses the sweet optimism and eternal trust that Garland seemed to always have.

The cast of supporting characters each took on several roles, playing the parents, spouses, friends and critics in Garland's life. Their collective talent sets the stage for all three Garlands to shine.

Garland's legacy will never be forgotten. Even at her most troubled moments, she was undeniably talented. She exuded a quality that drew people to her, and that same quality will attract audiences to this gem of a show.

Whether you want to know more about Garland or you just want to enjoy a concert of her signature songs, Beyond the Rainbow shouldn't be missed.

Don't Miss the Show:
Performances: "Beyond the Rainbow" tickets are still available for 8 p.m. Friday, July 13, 8 p.m. Saturday, July 14, and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 15.
Tickets: To purchase tickets, call (317) 216-5455. Prices are $32 for adults, $27 for seniors and $19 for students.

For more information about the Actors Theatre of Indiana, visit www.actorstheatreofindiana.org. The Pike Performing Arts Center is located at
6701 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis.