Seattle, WA

BWW Review: BRUCE at The Seattle Rep

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E. Faye Butler, Justin Keyes, Jay Donnell,
Jarrod Spector, Timothy McCuen Piggee,
and Eric Ankrim in Bruce at Seattle Rep.
Picture credit score: Lindsay Thomas

Pricey Readers, I must ask you a query. Have you ever seen the film “Jaws”? The unique and first huge summer season blockbuster from 1975. I can admit with a little bit embarrassment that till just lately I had by no means seen it. However seeing as this new present was about that movie that so many love, I did my homework. So again to my query, have you ever seen “Jaws”? If not, make some extent of it. It is merely a unbelievable movie. And if that’s the case, you may want a refresher. As a result of after you watch it, you must exit and get tickets for the brand new musical “Bruce” presently having its World Premiere on the Seattle Rep, as that is one to not miss. However some foreknowledge of the film is, if not required, tremendous useful.

I will begin off by saying this isn’t a parody of “Jaws”. I do know once I heard there was a brand new musical about “Jaws” the very first thing I assumed was, satire. However no, this can be a look again into the making of an iconic film. Positive, there are humorous moments as a result of some issues occurred that have been humorous, however authors Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker should not poking enjoyable at anybody concerned. They merely have taken screenwriter and “Jaws” actor Carl Gottlieb’s e-book, “The Jaws Log”, as a leaping off level and created a riveting take a look at the troubles and triumphs of film making. On this case, many troubles, typically coping with a temperamental mechanical shark named “Bruce”.

However past a enjoyable little bit of historical past, this musical manages to seize that tone and feeling of the depth of the film brilliantly with its largely sung by way of rating and a relentless tempo from director and choreographer Donna Feore. They’ve fantastically crafted the piece in order that there are few breaks to catch your breath, equally to how a superb horror/motion film like “Jaws” would do, because the stakes within the piece hold getting increased and better and the hazard getting nearer and nearer like a large shark barreling in direction of you. However right here our hero is just not Brody, Quint, or Hooper attempting to slay the beast however younger director Steven Spielberg (performed by Jarrod Specter) attempting to maintain this monster of a movie from destroying his profession in addition to the careers of others.

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BWW Review: BRUCE at The Seattle Rep
The forged of Bruce at Seattle Rep.
Picture credit score: Lindsay Thomas

The music manages one thing astounding in that there is not one quantity that does not transfer the story alongside whereas nonetheless being enjoyable, partaking, and energetic inside the tone of the present. Taylor and Oberacker have created a fairly distinctive piece that works on so many ranges and it calls for to be seen. And when introduced dwelling with a unbelievable set from Jason Sherwood (that garnered applause on one transformation) in addition to Jeff Croiter’s gorgeous lighting, Brian Hsieh’s immersive sound, and Shawn Duan’s unimaginable projections, the present simply retains firing alongside on all cylinders creating an extremely distinctive and unbelievable work.

Nearly as good because the manufacturing is, this superb ensemble forged matches them in each second. For a present that professes the truth that it was this collective group of artists who actually pulled this film off, not simply Spielberg, it is sensible that the present itself also needs to have a decent ensemble to make the work on stage shine. Every one, brings in one thing particular to their, typically a number of, roles. To call however just a few excellent people, I must begin with Ramzi Khalaf as actor Ricky Dreyfuss who has the legendary actor’s mannerisms down chilly. Equally Hans Altwies taking part in actor Robert Shaw brings in a pitch good and sometimes hilarious character and his scene with Spector, Khalaf, and Geoff Packard as actor Roy Scheider as they watch Shaw pull that pivotal monologue out of skinny air is, alone, well worth the worth of admission.

Too, E. Faye Butler as movie editor Verna Fields and Beth DeVries as actress Lorraine Gary take their respective roles and make them bigger than life. DeVries’ tune with Spielberg as she provides some sage phrases of knowledge is yet one more winner. And each Butler’s duet with Spector in addition to her solo quantity not solely present the significance of Fields to the success of the movie but additionally permit Butler to point out off these unimaginable pipes.

Justin Keyes and Jarrod Spector in Bruce at Seattle Rep.
Picture credit score: Lindsay Thomas
Jaws sketches courtesy of Joe Alves: Designing Jaws.

Everybody on this present is displaying off their A sport and I might go on for days about all of them, however we have to discuss Spector because the wunderkind, Spielberg. With a job like this, you want a seasoned skilled who can deal with the herculean process of being the focus for the complete story, and that is Jarrod Spector. He is definitely bought the voice wanted to blow us all away, however he additionally manages the charisma and stage presence to interact at any time when he is on stage and to do what he must do which is carry this present. And he appears to do it with out a lot effort. He by no means tries to placed on an impression of Spielberg however to easily develop into him and showcase his expertise in addition to his vulnerabilities. He brings in an outstanding efficiency that he makes look straightforward.

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Similar to this iconic movie that had all the fitting individuals, the fitting circumstances to beat, and the fitting message for the time, the present too brings collectively a unbelievable rating, e-book, manufacturing and ensemble to provide us an excellent little bit of theatrical alchemy. And so, with my three-letter score system, I give the Seattle Rep’s manufacturing of “Bruce” a humungous shark chunk of a WOW. Discover that larger boat, observe the “all clear” from the city’s Mayor and get your self again into these theatrical waters to catch this fabulous, fishy story earlier than it is gone.

“Bruce” performs on the Seattle Rep by way of July 3rd. For tickets or data go to them on-line at www.seattlerep.org.



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