‘Brigadoon’ surfaces at Vanguard

Tom Titus

Almost like the mythical village it celebrates, the musical

“Brigadoon” only surfaces once in a blue moon in local theater, which

is why its production, opening this weekend at Costa Mesa’s Vanguard

University, qualifies as a special event.

“Brigadoon” was a big hit on Broadway a half-century ago, and the

ensuing Gene Kelly-Cyd Charisse movie version was among the stars in

MGM’s crown. But for some reason, local theater groups with venues

large enough to produce it have seemed reluctant to revisit the

Scottish highlands.

Vanguard, however, has had two tickets to Scotland punched this

season. Earlier, there was a visceral mounting of the Shakespearean

tragedy “Macbeth,” and now the Lyceum Theater is home to another

Scottish play -- though hardly as bloody. The body count in “Macbeth”

is staggering; in “Brigadoon” only one character fails to survive.

For those unfamiliar with “Brigadoon,” the title village is locked

in 18th century mode, reappearing once every 100 years, and then just

for 24 hours. The Lerner-Loewe musical tells of two American hunters

who happen to be nearby when it happens, with one of them falling in

love with a local lassie -- who’s technically his senior by about 200

years.

Ashton Kutcher would love this role.

Directing the Vanguard production is Amick Byram, who has several

Broadway shows to his credit as an actor, including “Les Miserables,”

“Phantom of the Opera” and “Sunset Boulevard,” just three of about 50

Equity productions he’s been involved in, including “Brigadoon.”

Byram also wrote and directed the world premiere of “Ben Hur, the

Musical” in Orlando, Fla., as a $9 million stage production. It’s in

development for a national tour and a subsequent Broadway opening. So

obviously, he’s a director who thinks big.

“I love this show,” said Byram, who has played the roles of both

Tommy and Charlie in different productions. “It is a musical theater

classic with gorgeous music and one of the most tender and heartfelt

stories of love in all of musical theater.

“One of the compelling issues of ‘Brigadoon’ is the contrast

between our modern society and a magical, innocent world that

co-exist at the same time, but apart from each other. I think there

is an inner yearning of everyone to have a better, safer, purer world

to live in, or at least the belief that one can exist.”

Heading the Vanguard cast are Michael Mulligan and Rene Scheys as

the 20th century visitors and Heaven Peabody as the local lassie who

snares Mulligan’s heart, thereby confronting him with a scary choice

of action.

Jeff Fazakerley and Megan Elliot are the young couple about to be

married, while Tim Zimmer is the rebuffed swain whose jealousy nearly

... well, if you don’t know the show, why spoil it?

Others in the collegiate cast are Caitlan Macy-Beckwith, Freddy

Ingels, Mark Parker, Stan Jones, Scott Faring, Mike Bower, Mary House

and Chrissy Tiholiz.

“Brigadoon” opened Thursday in the university’s Lyceum Theater and

will play through March 4 with performances Thursdays through

Saturdays at 8 p.m. and matinees Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Tickets may be ordered at (714) 668-6145.

“These timeless themes speak to the heart of every person’s search

for love, meaning and values both on earth and also eternally,” Byram

said. “After all, doesn’t everyone want a ‘Brigadoon’?”

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Fridays.