BWW Reviews: BROTHER RUSSIA at the Signature is a Hoot

I've said it before.  I get so excited about seeing a World Premiere of a musical.  I recently saw the wonderful Broadway musical adaptation of the Irish film Once and thorougly enjoyed it.  But like many Broadway musicals, it is based on music you are familiar with.

Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer has no problems with bringing NEW musicals to life. It take a little bit of chutzpah to do this. After all, as Artistic Director, one has to rely on selling tickets to survive as a theater. But Signature Theatre audiences seem to welcome the challenge of seeing works that are brand new. 

Well, once again, Schaeffer has achieved what other theaters can only dream about.  He has worked before with the writing team of  Dana Rowe and John Dempsey having previously presented their musical The Witches of Eastwick. According to Dempsey, Schaeffer met with the composers for drinks in Hell's Kitchen two years ago and told them that they needed to write another musical and if they did, Signature would produce it.

What evolved is Brother Russia.

You can see a nice interview of lyricist Dempsey by BroadwayWorld's Pat Cerasaro here.  Dempsey explains the story: "It's about a fourth-rate troupe of Russian actors - an Acting Company that is sort of touring the hinterlands of Siberia; not even the good cities of Siberia. One of the members of the acting troupe is this bewildering old man who thinks he is Rasputin and is still alive at 142 years old.  The night we catch up with them, he is enlisting his fellow actors and conscripts them in telling his life story. That's basically the show."

Dempsey adds that the troupe has a long history and one time was very grand but are now reduced to just eleven actors.  Since they can't afford musicians, they use a nephew's rock band to play for them.

Playing the role of Brother Russia, the leader of the troupe is John Lescault. He serves as the narrator and twirls around the stage in a wheel chair in dark shades and he reminded me of a character played by Peter Sellers.  Playing Brother Russia (or Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin) in the play within the play is the remarkable Doug Kreeger who's character is named "Grigori" who finds himself by accident in the palace of Tsar Nicholas and his wife Alexandra in St. Petersberg. Rasputin is remembered as the "Mad Monk" but here, Gregori, is not portrayed in that manner. After he saves the Tsar's son's life from hemophilia, he is taken in by the family and eventually has an affair with the Tsar's daughter, Anastasia, (Sofya in the play within the play) played by the incredibly talented Natascia Diaz.

Yes, at times the plot is confusing. But don't worry. There are 28 musical numbers to keep you entertained and most are wonderful. Wait till you hear "Vodka" or "Siberia" or "I Serve No Man" or "Crush Me".  There's great music to be heard here.  You'll want the soundtrack (if they make one).

Brother Russia features an award-winning creative team that includes Jodi Moccia (choreography), Misah Kachman (set design), Kathleen Geldard (costume design), Colin k. Bills (lighting design) and Matt Rowe (sound design).  Gabriel Mangiante conducts a wonderful 7 piece band.

The ensemble is just amazing. There's Erin Driscoll, Kevin McAllister, Amy McWilliams, Christopher Mueller, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Stephen Gregory Smith, Russell Sunday, and Rachel Zampelli.

So take the trip to Siberia. You won't regret it.

Brother Russia plays through March 25. For tickets, call 703-820-9771 or visit www.signature-theatre.org.

THE 2012 SONDHEIM AWARD GALA

The Signature Theatre's 2012 Sondheim Award Gala will honor Patti LuPone, Monday, April 16, 2012 at the Embassy of Italy, Washington, DC. The event will feature the talents of Alexander Gemignan and Raoul Esparza. For tickets, call 571-527-1828.

Signature Announces 2012/13 Season

THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS - August 14 to Oct. 7, 2012

DYING CITY - Oct. 2 - Nov. 25, 2012

DREAMGIRLS - Nov. 13 to January 6, 2013

SHAKESPEARE'S R&J - Feb. 5 to March 3, 2013

HELLO DOLLY - March 15 to May 18 at the Ford's Theatre

CRIMES OF THE HEART - April 2 to April 28, 2013

COMPANY - May 21 to June 30, 2013

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

Photo Credit: Scott Suchman 

 

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