[NOTE: This post has been annotated. It may clarify some confusion, or further offend some readers. The former is preferable.]
IN LOVE WE TRUST: It’s Not a Play; It’s a Party
A Theater-Party Review by Julinda D. Lewis
At: HATTheatre, 1124 Westbriar Dr., RVA (Tuckahoe) 23238
Performances: December 6-14, 2019
Ticket Prices: $25 Adults; $20 Seniors; $15 Youth/Students with ID/Groups, & RVA On Stage cardholders; Reservations Required – No tickets at the door
Info: (804) 343-6364 or hattheatre.org
In Love We Trust, conceptualized and musically directed by Anthony Williams, is HATTheatre’s response to the daily stresses of the season. “It’s not a play. It’s not a traditional musical. It’s a party!” That’s what the press release said.
“You came to my party!” Williams gushed as he entered the space, with the band on the floor, opposite the entrance door, and the audience seated cabaret style around the black box – including the raised platform usually used as the stage. [NOTE: Apparently “platform” is the wrong terminology to describe the main stage. Does everyone automatically know or assume that a stage is raised? Guess I won’t make that mistake again.]
The show consisted of about twenty pop songs, ranging from Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Fanatasy” to Diana Ross’ “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and Barbra Streisand’s “Stoney End.” There were familiar songs like Crystal Gayle’s “Don’t It Make My Brow Eyes Blue” and Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” and less familiar songs such as Brian Hyland’s “Sealed with a Kiss.”
There was no script, but the songs were arranged in a way that reflected Williams’ life and loves. Williams, seated at the keyboard, was backed up by Jeremiah Martin on guitar (Forrest Link played guitar the first weekend) and percussionist Steve Raybould. Raybould joined in the patter and easy banter, while Martin, who appeared decades younger than most of the others, kept his attention strictly on his guitar. Casey Dillon, Andrew Etheredge, and Robyn O’Neill joined Williams to sing the vocals. This trio interacted with the audience, rotating around the space, and occasionally providing a nugget of history or love, or sometimes a completely nonsensical statement, as if testing to see if the audience was really paying attention. [NOTE: Never mention anyone’s age. Or size. Or gender? Or looks? not even if I find it interesting. I must be getting too old to keep up with all the things that might be considered offensive.]
Two young men who sat near the door and directly in front of the band seemed to know all the words and appeared to be having more fun than everyone else. I said hello after the show and asked if the more vocal of the two might be a student of Vicki Scallion, and sure enough, he was! [NOTE: I thought this comment illustrated that the show was engaging, and I personally was hoping to see the enthusiastic actor perform in the near future. Unfortunately, I was later informed that my comment was highly offensive to some readers. I cannot predict how people will react to things I say, but be assured my intent was not to single out anyone with the intent to offend. I often comment on the reactions of others in the audience – never mentioning any names (except when my 5- & 10-year old grandsons attend the Children’s Theatre with me and I include their perspectives because they are the target audience ) – so that my readers can have an understanding of how a performance affected others who were at the same performance and may have had a response different or more intense than my own.]
Deb Clinton, who is usually noted for her direction, was listed as the program’s Creative Consultant and there were no costumes or set design or lighting design, although there were some flashing Christmas lights at the beginning, and a string of Christmas lights marked off a dance-floor sized space in the ceiling.
The songfest, which ran just over an hour without intermission and included complimentary hot drinks (coffee, tea, cocoa, and cider) and desserts (e.g., cream puffs, cookies, chocolates) wasn’t a play or a musical, but it fell short of being a real party, as the audience remained seated and didn’t really mingle. The songs were lively, and the performers were relaxed but it seemed that they never really get go and gave it their all. It was as if were having a party but being careful not to disturb the neighbors because they are known for calling the local precinct to lodge noise complaints against anyone who appears to be having fun.
Julinda D. Lewis is a dancer, teacher, and writer who was born in Brooklyn, NY and now lives in Eastern Henrico County.
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Photo Credits: there were no photos at the time of publication
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