GLENS FALLS – “Island Song,” a musical which opens Adirondack Theatre Festival’s season, is an exciting production with a lot of talent on stage and behind the scenes. It plays at the Wood Theater in Glens Falls through July 2 and I guarantee you will remember the show and be proud that you saw these actors before they became well-known.
The musical is about 5 singles pursuing lives and careers in New York City. The 90-minute work is almost completely sung with the exception of interludes in which the characters reveal their thoughts in monologues delivered directly to the audience or to a silent partner onstage. These moments build a bond with the audience as you learn about each person’s dreams, desires, ambitions and insecurities. Eventually the piece forms a musical tapestry which suggests each person’s future.
“Island Song” contains a wide variety of song styles that make individual moments important and add to the entertainment aspect of the show. Sam Carner (words) and Derek Gregor (music) write songs that a complete story. They happen to fit a specific moment within in the show, but they also stand alone and provide moments of fun and insight.
The only stylistic flaw in “Island Song” is the creators don’t demonstrate the ability or desire to write duets. Almost every song is an inner-monologue put to music. This “show and tell” device informs the audience of a character’s feeling rather than permitting us to discover those emotions. When the writing team stops telling and start revealing their commercial future is unlimited. Granted “Island Song” is a show about isolated characters and to create duets might seem impossible, but they exist.
The performers are ideal for their roles. Emily Schultheis is Jordon, the driven lawyer who is in love with the energy and romance of New York City to the point that no man will ever be able to satisfy her demands for excitement. She has an on stage presence that is riveting along with all the tools needed to be a major star.
Another compelling figure is Philippe Arroyo who plays Cooper. He’s the total opposite of Jordon being an introverted struggling actor. Arroyo makes Cooper a sweet and sincere presence. The creators would do the character a favor by making it clear whether the man is gay or straight as the choice would help the actor define more clearly his family.
It is Cooper who delivers the most important line in the play when he says you don’t come to New York City to find who you are, rather, he says, “This is where you have to know who you are and hang on to it for dear life.”
Another character that needs help is Ted, the architect from the Midwest. When we meet him he’s a funny, happy nerd with dreams of building beautiful buildings. He’s a charming character with the potential to add a mature perspective to the show. Once he finds himself in a relationship with Jordon all his positive traits slip away as he seems needy and dull. Perhaps the solution is not to change the character, rather don’t cast the role with someone as talented, funny and charming as Aaron Galligan-Stierle who is so good you miss him when his character evaporates.
Katheen Moteleone is very good as the comic chatterbox singer who has a secret crush on her accompanist. Madeline Trumble is vulnerable as Shoshana, the would-be author with permanent writer bloc who tries to start a revolution in her temp work pool.
Music director and pianist Vadim Feichtner brings clarity and emotion to the ever changing moods of the score and leads a phenomenal 5-piece band. Marlo Hunter directs the work so that complicated relationships stay clear and issues of time and location are never a problem. All technical elements work together to create a show that looks good and sounds great. It’s really good theater that should have a life after its run at Adirondack Theatre Festival.
“Island Song” at Adirondack Theatre Festival, Glens Falls Through July 2. 480-4878, atfestival.org
Bob Goepfert is theater reviewer for the Troy Record
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