REVIEW: HTI's THE PROM - Full of Unruly Hearts and an Enduring Message
Most of us grew up with very extravagant visions of what prom was: a huge spectacle of gowns, tuxes, impractical shoes and, of course, an enormous dance number that everyone, somehow, knew the choreography to. In reality, you realize it was just easier to enjoy being with your friends on the dance floor, choreography free, than worrying about dates and corsages.
But for some, especially as the need for inclusivity is of utmost importance, the prom can become a political statement and one that still is subjected to scrutiny in more conservative places across the world. Sometimes, those political statements become inspiration for musicals. Such is the case with HTI's greater Hamilton and Toronto debut of the Drama Desk award winning musical, The Prom.
The Prom follows four Broadway actors lamenting their days of fame, as they travel to the conservative town of Edgewater, Indiana, to help a lesbian student banned from bringing her girlfriend to high school prom. The concept of the musical was inspired by real-life events in 2010 when a lesbian student was banned from their prom and when challenged, the town's board banned the prom all together. There was celebrity support for the teen to be able to attend prom and in the end, a "Second-Chance" prom was sponsored by various celebrities including the band Green Day and former N*SYNC member Lance Bass.
The cast and production team is full of newcomers which is wonderful to see. The Prom is a wise choice for newcomers as the show is not musically overwhelming and focuses more, thankfully, on its story rather than songs. The songs themselves are fine but with the exceptions of Tonight Belongs to You, Love Thy Neighbour and Unruly Heart, are nothing special and are only really used to drive the plot forward.
Our protagonist Emma, played endearingly by Cecelia MacDonald, is a standout. Their introduction song immediately makes us root for them and when their heart breaks, we feel it deeply. Equally matched is Emma's closeted partner Alyssa (played with believable and sweet uncertainty by Sarah Gazzola). Alyssa showcases the realistic battle between wanting to be who she is and fighting the pressures society and family weighing her down. There are some moments between these two that almost falls into melodramatic territory but thankfully, they overcome those urges by grounding themselves in the realities of their scenes together.
Photo: Cecelia MacDonald as Emma (left) and Sarah Gazzola as Alyssa (right)
Photography by: Kreations Photography
Two other standouts of The Prom are found in newcomers Nathan Farmer as one of the "washed up" and struggling actors Trent Oliver and the underutilized but effortlessly entertaining Oviya Sivakkumaran as long-legged, Fosse loving Angie. Both actors are delightful every moment they are on stage and really own their numbers. They are in on all of the theatre in-jokes within their songs and play them large and as loud as the ongoing sound mixing issues will allow them. Farmer especially shines with his comedic timing and his hilariously lofty ego. There is also a wonderful sense of mentorship between Farmer and the young cast members in the upbeat Godspell-inspired Love Thy Neighbour (and a hilarious Steve Buscemi-esque in 30 Rock costume nod which I appreciated immensely). What a gem.
Oviya Sivakkumaran, Nathan Farmer and Matthew Moore excel in The Prom
Photography by: Kreations Photography
Speaking of gems, Matthew Moore, a veteran of HTI and beyond, shines as bright as his sequined costumes as Barry Glickman. His well-rounded talents allow him to disappear into this flamboyant and mentoring role. At first, his intentions are as selfish as the other Broadway actors, but his change of heart is very authentic and his moments with Emma are especially genuine and touching. This show needed Moore's skillsets and stage experience more than anyone could have imagined. Bravo.
HTI's production of The Prom definitely has a great deal of heart, thanks, in large part, to its cast of characters but it seems to lack pride in several facets of its production design and staging. Having seen over two decades of shows on the small but transformative stage, it was disheartening to see how bland and uninspiring the design elements were throughout. The backdrop remains as the high school hallway for the entire show and distracts from the other settings within the show. There are also some very odd choices for set changes while actors are performing their musical numbers and despite their best efforts, nothing feels exciting and fun until the finale and a disco ball and a rainbow balloon banner can only provide so much joy.
Sadly, the sound levels and projection of the bulk of the cast is also an ongoing issue throughout. Sitting front row and straining to hear actors who are singing about their ability to belt is awkward to say the least. There are several moments where the band and actors are not working in tandem and only the confident performers can keep up. There is definitely a huge gap between the solidly acted dramatic scenes and the vocal strain in the musical numbers many are facing and hopefully, these aspects can be taken into consideration for the rest of the production's run.
HTI's production of The Prom, plays it safe overall with a new director and many new production team members. This experience will hopefully provide some learning experience for this troupe and allow for future opportunities to take risks and excel in them. While the production doesn't offer anything new or groundbreaking, it does come with a crucially important message: that we should all be proud of who we are, and we should all be free to love whoever we want to. The show has plenty of funny and endearing elements that will be appreciated by theatre goers. Go and bring your prom dates and remember the importance and relevance of its overall message. It remains important now and always.
FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION, please visit:
https://hamiltontheatre.com/tickets/
Photos: Cecelia MacDonald (above) and The Cast of The Prom (below)
Photography by: Kreations Photography
