BWW Reviews: LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE Has Potential, but Disappoints

For better or for worse, Little House on the Prairie has joined the ever growing, eclectic club of main stream stories transformed into musicals.  Surprisingly, this quaint account of a family struggling to settle the prairie actually has potential and could be successful in the live, musical theatre format.  However, multiple production problems prevent this national tour from realizing that goal.

Little House on the Prairie fans will enjoy that this musical adaption that stays true to established characters.  But those who venture to the theatre to see Melissa Gilbert sing are destined to be disappointed from her first solo note.  Having starred as 'Laura Ingalls' as a child for nine seasons on the beloved television show, Little House on the Prairie, Gilbert returns to the plains but this time as the strong and loving 'Ma'.  Gilbert gives a compelling, warm acting performance as the family's female head but cannot keep up with the vocal talents of the rest of the cast.  She also fails to extract any potential there may be in the lack luster song "Wild Child" (Ma's solo at the end of the show), which further drags down the unnecessarily drawn out second act.

Casting problems continue with lead, Kara Lindsay, who stars as Laura.  Lindsay provides a phenomenal, energetic impression of the young, care free Laura Ingalls - but that's exactly what it is, an impression.  To her credit, it is obvious Lindsay is a strong actor and also a musical delight, but the tantrums Laura throws throughout act one borderline on the ridiculous coming from an adult performer, and at times Lindsay tries too hard to act like a little girl.  This is one example where an adult dressed in children's clothing just does not cut it.  It is impossible to believe Lindsay really is the middle sister of the family especially when she looks like the eldest.  This role, and the entire production, would be more successful if Laura was played by a talented teen and then perhaps the cleverly written, sarcastic lines and energetic spins would be more endearing and believable.

Little House on the Prairie is based on the true story of the Ingalls family as they settle land in the Dakota Territory and survive failed crops, harsh winters, and wild fires.  The account was originally documented by Laura Ingalls Wilder in a series of books which were adapted into the television series.  As the years pass, the character of Laura grows in maturity and in love with the free spirited Almanzo Wilder.  After Laura's older sister, Mary, loses her sight to scarlet fever, Laura takes a teaching job in a nearby settlement to earn sufficient wages to send Mary to a school for the blind.  During her teachings Laura stays with the Brewster family and the experience enables her to truly appreciate her own loving family. 

From the moment she appears on stage with recognizable platinum spiral curls, Kate Loprest as the self-centric, antagonist Nellie Oleson is the highlight of this production.  Loprest (Hairspray (Amber Von Tussle); Xanadu (Swing/Kira cover) and The Drowsy Chaperone) is an absolute delight and steals every scene.

Kevin Massey (understudy for Tarzan in the Broadway production of Tarzan) also delivers a strong performance as Almanzo Wilder and shines in the number "Old Enough" when he tricks the Land Grant office into believing he is old enough to claim land in the territory.

Throughout the performance Little House reminded me of Little Women The Musical - both stories are based on classic books and both shows focus on the carefree sister (Jo in Little Women and Laura in Little House) who makes a personal sacrifice for their ailing sister and close the show with a predictable engagement despite previously stated objections.  The difference is Little Women has a phenomenal score.  The music of Little House is adequate.

The Little House score is one ballad after another and after a while they begin to sound the same.   The score does successfully invoke the feeling of the western prairie and a few of the themes are strong, especially "Faster" (the love duet between Laura and Almanzo), "Old Enough", and Nellie's two songs "Country Girls" and "Without an Enemy".

But by far, the strongest song in the score is the haunting melody "Teach The Wind" which is given to the minor character of Mrs. Brewster (Meredith Inglesby, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and TV's Law & Order).  Inglesby's emotional performance conveys the woman's internal struggle to honor her marriage vow of obedience when she longs to leave the prairie.  This song also stands out due to the use of minor chords which is like a breath of fresh air as once can only stand so much happiness.

The scenic design by Adrianne Lobel is masterfully conceived as pieces of log cabins that combine to create unique locations and invoke the feeling of Lincoln Logs.  The show's blocking is also clever, especially a sequence where construction workers pass a single piece of lumber in rhythm with hammers and saws and the log eventually becomes the sign for the Claims Office.  The illusion of horses is successfully portrayed by reigns attached to rings downstage allowing the cast to snap them and act as if they're on horses and covered wagons.

Keeping true to its female-centric tradition, and plot of Little House on the Prairie The Musical addresses career limits and societal expectations placed upon women in 1880 providing social commentary of the progress of women's rights.  This message is also enforced by the unique distinction Little House has an all-female creative time including composer Rachel Portman (Emma), lyricist Donna Di Novelli, librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and director Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid).

This family-friendly, family-centric production is also a family affair for Gilbert.  During the 9 season run of the television series, Gilbert's younger brother, Jonathan, starred as Nellie's younger brother, Willie.  Now for this national tour Gilbert's 13-year-old son, Michael Boxleitner makes his theatrical debut in the same role previously played by her brother.  Little House also completes its Houston run with two performances on Mother's Day.

The opening night of Little House on the Prairie was extra special as Houston native and Laura Ingalls Wilder relative, Lee Ingalls, was in attendance.  Great, great grandson of Lansford Ingalls (played by Arthur Hill in the television show), Lee Ingalls expressed his thanks to Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon (who played Laura's father in the television show) for keeping their family story alive. 

"It's a great story that [Laura] put down capturing an interesting time in our history," Lee Ingalls said.  "It cuts back to core values and that's what we see on stage."

This was Lee Ingalls' first time seeing the musical adaption of his family's story and he enjoyed the production expressing how much the show means to him personally.

Little House the Prairie had its world premiere at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis August 2008 where is shattered all box-office records and sold-out for 12 consecutive weeks. 

Little House on the Prairie is presented by Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) and runs at the Hobby Center from April 28 through May 9, 2010.  Tickets (starting at $24) are available on-line at www.tuts.com, by phone at 713-558-TUTS (8887), outside the Houston area at 888-558-3882, or in person at the Theatre Under the Stars Box Office (800 Bagby at Walker, Mon-Fri 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat-Sun 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.).  An audio described performance is available Sunday, May 9, 2010 at 2 p.m. and open captioning is available the same day at the 7:30 p.m. performance. 

  

Photo Credit: © Carol Rosegg, 2009

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