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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Love Is The Byword With ‘Brigadoon’

“Brigadoon,” Thursday, Aug. 22, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre

“Brigadoon,” with its sweet and gentle heart, is one of the easiest of all musicals to love.

A village emerges from the Highland mists every 100 years, giving promise of a place where love can last forever.

The Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre’s version is suitably lovable, largely because of fine casting in all of the major roles. This, the final production in the summer-stock season, features charming leads, delightful character performances and fine, faithful versions of Lerner and Loewe’s tunes.

It all begins with skilled and comfortable performances by Terrence Kelley and Eric Englund as the two American hunters who stumble upon this Scottish village that time forgot. Englund is perfect as Jeff, a comic-relief Bob Hope-type who is too cynical and too fond of bourbon. Imagine a young, good-looking, extra-grouchy Walter Matthau and you have some idea of how Englund handles this role.

Kelley plays Tommy with an edge of depth and romance. He gives Tommy just enough innocence to make him appealing without making him sappy. His singing voice is pure pleasure, and he delivers a fine version of the show’s big song, “Almost Like Being In Love.”

He falls in love with the lass Fiona, who is played by Kelley’s real-life wife, Angela Kelley. She has exactly the kind of apple-cheeked Highland appeal the part calls for, and their romantic duets are clearly delivered from the heart.

Susannah Mars does a fine comic turn as the man-crazy Meg. Her song, “The Love of My Life,” is hilarious. Kurt Raimer and Kay Story are both fine as the bride and groom in a rousing Highland wedding.

The direction by Roger Welch is not particularly magical, but it includes some stirring moments, including a powerfully haunting scene in which a lifeless body is carried off to the sound of bagpipes.

“Brigadoon” tells much of its story through dance, and several of the long ballets succeed beautifully as visual narratives. One shows the bride, Bonnie Jean, and her sisters dreaming of her wedding; another shows Harry (played well by Alex Bernhardt) attempting to escape the constraints of Brigadoon.

, DataTimes MEMO: “Brigadoon” will be presented tonight and Sunday and Aug. 29-31 at Boswell Hall at North Idaho College. All shows are at 8 p.m., except the Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets: $19 for adults, $14 for children 18 and younger; call (800) 4-CDA-TIX, or in Coeur d’Alene, 769-7780.

“Brigadoon” will be presented tonight and Sunday and Aug. 29-31 at Boswell Hall at North Idaho College. All shows are at 8 p.m., except the Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets: $19 for adults, $14 for children 18 and younger; call (800) 4-CDA-TIX, or in Coeur d’Alene, 769-7780.