My overall impression
The story is interesting, original and engaging. The music is very good to sublime at times. The performances are all top notch – very professional. Kim Hessler has a strong, classically-trained voice equal to the demands of the leading role. Melinda Erlich is a seductively beautiful Valentina. Among the marionettes, baritone John Haukoos is especially strong, both vocally and dramatically. And Tony Gonzalez will tear your heart out. This young man acts with his voice and is the heart and soul of the musical.
Pianist/composer Sam Johnides does the heavy lifting of playing the entire musical score on the keyboard. He does so with confidence, musicality and authority.
I went to this musical twice and found it even more hauntingly beautiful the second time. My hope is that it will be picked up by a producer, tweaked and changed some with the addition of, perhaps, a bit more dialogue, a few lighter songs interspersed with the blockbuster duets, and presented in a larger venue to a larger audience.
Bravo, composers, performers and crew.
Michele Gaines
