June 12, 1973

Hawaii Observer

Celebration

By Sara Edlin

Celebration was an attempt by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt to provide a sequel to their clever, literary and romantic musical The Fantasticks, which has been running off-Broadway for a decade. Celebration depicts the perennial struggle between age and youth, riches and poverty, and power and innocence. Ultimately, however, as in The Fantasticks, Jones and Schmidt are on the side of youth.

The Schofield Barracks Special Services' presentation of Celebration is a delight. It is not a production that completely realizes the potential of the play, but it certainly heads in the right direction. The musical numbers are a bit offbeat, but with good musical direction, they can be made dramatic. Toni Yager's direction is acceptable for a military production, but I feel that she had more potential talent to work with than she realized.

On the other hand, Bob Todd, the musical director, elicited good performances from the musicians and singers. Todd is a protege of Don Allton, the conductor of the Honolulu Chorale, and is the Chorale's assistant conductor. Todd has been Special Services Musical Director since 1971. He has directed five Army touring chorales, and last summer was the musical director of Schofield's presentation of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The musicians all deserve credit for an excellent musical evening: Barbara Kramer, Donald Westcoat, Doris San Miguel, Cary Balcom, and Willie Lawrence.

Having known many people who worked on Special Services shows and then became professional actors or directors (e.g., Ely Landau and Sidney Lumet), I am pleased to see some fresh new talent at Schofield. William Hao, a graduate of McKinley High School, plays Potemkin, the Con Man, a character who appeared as El Gallo in The Fantasticks. Hao has a beautiful voice and outdoes everyone vocally, but he is somewhat wodden as an actor. I hope that someday he will have a chance to work with a director who will know how to guide his talent.

Chip Lopez, talented as an actor, singer and dancer, is the high point of the show. More experienced than the rest of the cast, Lopez belts out his songs and captures the feeling of Mr. Rich, the sybaritic old man who tries to wrest Angel away from Orphan.

There were really many good moments in Celebration. Everybody had a high level of energy and tried to capture the feeling of the show; however, the play was picked by Schofield's former director, Vanita Rae Smith, and I felt that Yager wasn't completely happy about directing the play. It is a challenge to work with a Special Services theatre group. For many of the people involved in this production, it was their only creative outlet. There's a lot of talent at Schofield and it should be developed.

Saturday, May 5, 1973/H5>

Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Bright, Musical Message Brought by 'Celebration'

By Ben Wood

A 'Celebration' with a message opened last night at Schofield Barracks and an enthusiastic cast of young performers got an old story across in a bright, refreshing manner. 'Celebration' is the Schofield Special Services Theatre Guild's latest offering. The musical was written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, the pair responsible for 'The Fantasticks.'

Director Toni Yager has come up with a very entertaining production. The leads--William Hao, Chip Lopez, Mitch Ruble and Lynn Zoller--are particularly strong. Jeanne Duncan, Jolynn Davis, Raine Smith, Jeanne Brayshaw, Coralee Sanders, Butler Bynote, Jr., Chuck Stump, James Rocco and Earl Anderson make up the supporting corps of singer-dancers. Their background work is the key to the musical's success. The musical director is Bob Todd, who has handled his singers and musicans well.

'Celebration' has a fantasy look to it but zeroes in on the problems of today. For instance: Beauty being destroyed by progress and pollution; selfishness; and the corruption which wealth and power can sometimes spawn. (This musical was not written with Watergate in mind.)

It has a fairy tale theme in which good triumphs over evil. But the storybook ending is cut short when the two lovers leave their Garden of Eden and must face the real world.

Hao, who only last year was graduated from McKinley High School, portrayed the difficult and demanding role of Potemkin. He conducted himself like a veteran professional. It was Potemkin who kept the diverse characters moving toward their respective goals. But he did so for personal gain. He was an exceptional smooth con man and his baritone was the best voice in the show. Watch for this young man in the future.

Lopez was Mr. Rich, the power structure. All he had was money and he was dreadfully unhappy. (See what I mean that fairy tale business?) Lopez did an excellent, jaded, dry tycoon who could no longer feel anything. When a young man who had lived in an orphanage all his life teaches Mr. Rich how to experience emotion, the lecherous old devil causes much laughter. Lopez sang and danced a neat soft-shoe to "Where Did It Go?" with two of the girls.

Ruble was the innocent whose orphanage was destroyed by Mr. Rich's bulldozers. He played the 'good boy' part with the correct honesty and simplicity. His vocals were warm and sung with much feeling.

Miss Zoller was a sexy gold digger who was looking for an easy way to riches. But she saw the light and chose the good orphan over Mr. Rich. She played the low-class broad in proper style, although she could have used more power in her vocal solos.

Todd's five piece band was made up of Barbara Kramer, Donald Westcoat, Doris San Miguel, Cary Balcom, and Willie Lawrence.

'Celebration' will play tonight and tomorrow night at 8. Performaces are set for Fridays through Sundays except for May 27, for the rest of the month. It's worth the trip. And people will be surprised to find themselves right in the midst of the 'Celebration' as they leave the theatre.