When the overture began and the curtains opened last night on the Batavia Players Summer Youth Theatre production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I had seen the 1954 film years and years ago but didn't remember it at all. (My mother reminded me that it was the movie with the extremely agile male dancers; surprisingly, that didn't help.)
The show takes place in an Oregon trapping town circa 1850, and tells the story of the seven Pontipee brothers, who all live together without parents or wives 12 miles outside of the town. Because they have no women around to do the housework, the oldest brother, Adam, goes into town (where the Pontipees are not welcome due to their rowdy behavior), and quickly proposes to Milly, a waitress. The two get married and Milly takes on the seemingly impossible task of training Adam's brothers to be gentlemen. But when the brothers fall in love with girls from the town, they abandon all they've learned from their sister-in-law and mayhem ensues. It's a cute, fun story with upbeat songs and a happy ending, and the actors all seemed to be enjoying themselves while telling it.
Retired schoolteacher Carol Smith said she came to see some of her former students in the cast.
"I think it's amazing," she said at intermission. "I'm really enjoying it. The leads especially are doing amazing."
I agreed. Brittany Mruczek and Justin Soble were outstanding as Milly and Adam, both of them believable as their characters and having fantastic singing voices.
The rest of the ensemble provided solid backing for Mruczek and Soble. Nicholas Dunn, Kraig Marsh, Casimir Mruczek, Adam Secor, Matthew Smith, and Eric Waples were audience favorites as the other six brothers, entertaining the crowd with their boisterous antics and impressive harmonizing.
Their brides (played by Melzie Case, Rachel Fischer, Erin Kruppner, Kaitlin Logsdon, Maryssa Peirick, and Katelyn Rogers) were equally as entertaining as they giggled and flitted around the stage, becoming bolder as the show went on. Even many of the smaller characters who only had a few lines, such as James Barcomb and Alyssa Buckley as Mr. and Mrs. Perkins and Charles Smith as the Preacher, were memorable. And of course everyone knows that a cluster of dancing five year olds in ninteenth-century attire just cannot be beat.
Sixteen-year-old Rosalie Mortellaro is a veteran of the Summer Youth Theatre program but was unable to participate this year because of family plans this weekend (a wedding, coincidentally). However, that didn't stop her from coming to support her friends from shows past.
"It's excellent," she declared. "I'm surprised to see some new faces and it's nice to see old ones."
The show seemed to go off without a hitch, earning a standing ovation early into the bows. As I walked out, people all around me were raving about the performance, using words like "incredible" and "phenomenal." In fact, the only negatvie comments I heard at all last night were concerning the size of the line for the ladies room at intermission.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers will also be performed tonight and Saturday night at 7:30 in the Batavia High School auditorium at 260 State St. Rd. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for students and seniors. For more information call 343-9313, ext. 31.
