Director Tammy Franklin and her Rising Curtain Theatre & Dance Company in Denver capture the comedy and especially the heart of this musical with their production. That heart is centered in the Boyd home, where every movement and subtle expression by baseball widow Meg (Ariel Ellis) makes her love and loyalty to her husband palpable, all while capturing the role’s comedy as well. As Joe Boyd, Elliot Clough begins as a callous husband who has grown to take his wife for granted, but his tender regret upon leaving her to make the deal with the devil is nicely portrayed. And his return in an effort to comfort Meg as the young Joe Hardy (Johnathan Hicks) is a powerful duet beautifully sung by Johnathan and a wistful Ariel who is heartbroken but trying to hold onto hope that her husband will come back home.

Johnathan Hicks is a meek and humble Joe Hardy who would appear to be in trouble in his dealing with Mr. Applegate and his assistant, “a very nice girl from Chicago” named Lola. Isaiah Farago is a cool and relaxed Mr. Applegate whose confidence in his deal, and in his assistant, slowly begins to waver. He shines in his nostalgic solo Those Were the Gold Old Days that includes some suave tap moves (especially for a beginner) choreographed by Jaclyn O’Hara and spiced up with some moonwalking and a little baton twirling with his cane.

Whether he’s happy with the performance of his assistant or not, Lola deserves to get Whatever Lola Wants with Kelly Oury’s sensational performance – first as the cocky and seductive Lola who makes a hilarious play for a terrified Joe Hardy, and later as the genuinely moved Lola who is touched by Joe’s love for his wife, regretful for how her existence has played out, and hopeful that Joe gets back to Meg no matter what Mr. Applegate’s wrath may hold (which includes some taunting that she’s losing her touch after 172 years).

Performs April 13-21, 2007.

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

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