Compelling Musical 'Thrill Me' Smolders At Uptown Players

The first thing you notice is the music. Vibrant, pulsating music with a driven force and personality of its own.  Music with an edge that bores down into your very soul.  Soon other things catch your attention as well:  the magnificent performances, the astounding story and the river-like fluidity of the production.  These elements add up to the stupendous Thrill Me:  The Leopold and Loeb Story as presented by Uptown Players.

Thrill Me was first presented by the off-Broadway York Theatre Company in 2005.  The Book, Music and Lyrics are by Stephen Dolginoff.  The musical has since been presented in several regional productions.  The plot is about the real-life thrill seekers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb who kill for sport in 1924 Chicago.  The only on-stage characters in the musical are Leopold and Loeb themselves.  The musical contains traditional musical numbers as well as dialogue that is sung.

Chad Peterson gives a chilling portrayal of Leopold, the man coerced into crime by Loeb, a man he both fears and admires.  Mr. Peterson offers a portrait of quiet determination so apt that were immediately drawn into his plight.  His dialogue and face painted a riveting portrait of a man who was driven to crime out of love for another.  Mr. Peterson also possesses a singing voice that put genuine emotion into the lyrics which caused the character of Leopold to obtain more shading.  Songs such as "Why" and "Thrill Me" were acted and sung with gentle force and a quiet intensity that embellished the shocking story.

Kevin Moore's portrayal of Loeb was also masterful.  Mr. Moore presented a character wrapped in sin, lies and deceit that somehow Leopold found attractive.  He conveyed much of this through subtle gestures and facial expressions and rapid-fire personality changes.  It was incredible to watch him shift gears from bravado to fear to logical precision on the turn of a dime.  All of these emotions were on view during his standout number toward the end of the musical, "Afraid."

Bruce R. Coleman, the director of Thrill Me, has steered all these elements together into a production that has continuous movement and frequent bursts of frightening energy.  Rather than focus on the sensational aspects of the story, Mr. Coleman gives us a story about a man with a criminal mind, his lonely companion, and the emotional havoc that ensues.  The climatic moment when Leopold makes a startling confession to Loeb contained enough voltage to ignite a forest.

At the performance I attend, the piano was played by Kevin Gunter.  Mr. Gunter clearly understood the requirements of the music in Thrill Me and responded with the proper wistful accompaniment.  The muted costumes by Mr. Coleman and moody lighting by Adam Hughes sharply added to the effectiveness of the piece.

The action in Thrill Me will keep you riveted to the stage at all times.  The charged music, performances, and direction add up to a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience.  Attend Thrill Me—and learn for yourself what a genuine thrill is all about.

Thrill Me continues  through November 12.  For more information, please visit the Uptown Players website.

 

Please Note:  Thrill Me is intended for mature audiences only.

Pictured:  Chad Peterson, Kevin Moore

Photo Credit:  Mark Oristano

 

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