The San Benito Stage Company is preparing to tackle marriage and
the gender war to the seventh degree this summer with its
production of
”
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,
”
a singing and dancing extravaganza that promises to be more fun
than a barn raising.
The San Benito Stage Company is preparing to tackle marriage and the gender war to the seventh degree this summer with its production of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” a singing and dancing extravaganza that promises to be more fun than a barn raising.
“It’s just a rompin’, stompin’ old-fashioned musical,” Producer Jesus Huerta said.
“Seven Brides” tells the story of Adam, a backwoodsman from Oregon who falls in love with a girl named Millie and marries her after knowing her for only a few hours. He brings her back to his mountain cabin where she introduces Adam and his six brothers to the world of social graces and hygiene.
“My character is a very headstrong kind of gal but she’s also very mannered, and she whips the boys into shape,” said Bryn Calderon, who plays Millie. “We’re very similar that way – you can ask my husband.”
To test their newly acquired skills, the six brothers attend a dance in town and promptly fall in love with six lovely ladies, who unfortunately are already the objects of six young suitors’ affections. The brothers and suitors get into a brawl and the brothers are banished from town because of it. Adam inspires his siblings to kidnap the ladies of their choice, but upon bringing them to the cabin, an avalanche traps all 14 lovers on the mountain for the winter. Hilarity ensues.
“It sounds weird, but there’s actually a lot you can relate to if you’ve ever been in love or married,” Director Christian Barrera said.
“Seven Brides” was chosen as SBSC’s summer show after a few other considerations, including “Westside Story,” which was eventually dismissed because of its complex music.
“We wanted something with more dancing, and this has a lot of fun, unusual dance,” Huerta said. “It’s very lively.”
Barrera’s love affair with “Seven Brides” began years ago, when he starred in San Benito High School’s 1994 production. The chance to put his own spin on the adventures of Adam and his six merry brothers then, is a bit of a dream come true.
“This is the biggest cast I’ve ever worked with as a director, but the show is so fun and we all know each other, so it isn’t a problem,” he said.
Indeed, most of the show’s more than 40 cast members have performed together on a number of occasions and have formed friendships that run deep onstage and off.
“We always audition together. We’ve been doing this for a long time,” said Jared Burchard, 17, who plays one of the brothers, named Ephraim.
The chance to grow together as artists is one of the aspects of local theater that keeps performers coming back after each production.
“I think Chris has known us all since before our voices started to crack,” said Josh Harvey, 16, who plays Frankincense.
The cast’s closeness has translated into a smooth rehearsal process, Barrera said, and after only eight weeks together the show is nearly ready to go.
“It’s kind of hard to explain why we do this,” Calderon said. “It’s like asking, ‘Why do people jump out of airplanes?’ You just really have to have a passion for what you’re doing.”
Cast and crew members are confident that “Seven Brides” will be an enjoyable experience to audience members of all ages, no matter how often they typically attend the theater.
“Seeing a live show is always so much more fun than going to the movies,” Calderon said. “Because there’s live people up on stage, there’s an energy there and we’re relating to the audience.”
Moreover, the music and dance that has made “Seven Brides” a hit for more than 50 years rarely fails to please audiences.
“You’ll be humming the songs all the way home from the show,” said Huerta. “That’s what I do after rehearsals, and I’m not even in the play.”
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637- 5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
