There’s a (near-riotous) party going on at New Line Theatre. Scott Miller and his merry band have unleashed Head over Heels. Unleashed again, that is. Their first production was stopped in its tracks two years ago this month by the pandemic. Celebrate by heading to the Marcelle Theater and settling in for an evening of fun.
The story is adapted from a 16th Century romantic novel – whose language, according to people who know about these things, was considered extremely dated even then. There are still some influences of that in Jeff Whitty’s script, which was adapted by James Magruder, but not enough to put off anyone who is willing to flex their ears a little. They’ll be rewarded with a romp.
They won’t have to wait long, either. This is, rather amazingly, a jukebox musical using the music of the Go-Go’s. Cognitive dissonance? Not much. Our first clue is Courtney Gibson and Sarah Porter’s costumes, which are delicious takes on quasi-period threads, with rowdy colors and a fine varied assortment of footwear, plus the greatest use of rick-rack since elementary school pageants in the Fifties. And then there’s the choreography from Michelle Sauer and Sara Rae Womack, dazzling and athletic and in-your-face.
The royal family of Arcadia has two daughters. The hunt is on, of course, for appropriate husbands. The older, Pamela (Grace Langford), is considered the most beautiful girl in the kingdom (of course – the eldest daughter of a king who has no sons?) and rejects suitor after suitor. Philoclea (Melissa Felps) has a devoted swain who is (also naturally) considered totally inappropriate. Dad the King Basilius (Zachary Allen Farmer) isn’t in quite as much charge as he wants us to think, and Queen Gynecia (Carrie Wenos Priesmeyer) can still put her foot down with considerable authority.
After yet another raft of gentleman callers are shown the castle door, there’s a message from Arcadia’s new oracle, Pythio (Tielere Cheatem). Pythio, a non-binary character, wants a meeting, pronto, so the King and his councilor Dametas (Colin Dowd) go deal with the dazzling one. What Pythio says sends the court on a road trip. The lighthearted show also gives us plenty to consider in terms of gender identify, sexual preference and how we think about ourselves.
Lots of good voices here. Langford and Felps as the two princesses can both rock it, and mom Priesmeyer, as well. (Not surprisingly, since the Go-Go’s were an all-female band, the score works particularly well for female voices.) They’ve configured the black box at the Marcelle with audience on both sides and cast entrances from all four corners, so it’s a chance for us to watch actors up close, always fascinating. In a scene very close to the end, Farmer, as the king, has no lines for a long time, but it’s a very emotional time. Watching him from the back, even his ears turned red as the character tried hard to suppress his true feelings. That’s the sort of detail that can make these small venues so rewarding. Watch also the transient expressions on the face of Colin Dowd as Dametas, the counselor, as he deals with the king’s quirks.
Scott Miller, New Line founder, directed this, and he’s hit it out of the park. It’s a good example of the whole new world of musical theatre.
Head over Heels
through March 26
New Line Theatre
The Marcelle Theater
3310 Samuel Shepard Dr, St. Louis
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