Composer Jacqueline Sadler:
Her Songs are Melodic and Vibrant

Victoria Playhouse:
Official Site

Scott Pietrangelo:
Official Site

Oil Rush by Robert More and Jacqueline Sadler: Victoria Playhouse Petrolia

by Brian J. Hay

History set to music.

That's the best way to describe the production of "Oil Rush" that's being performed in the Victoria Playhouse. There is a play involved but it's mostly in place to connect the threads between the array of musical numbers. Playwright Robert More must have felt that way when he wrote the piece because what he created does exactly that. It's strong on wit and has a few emotional moments, but, most of the dialogue and action works to set up the various musical numbers that form the true backbone of the show. But, that's fine. It does what it's supposed to do.

The score (by composer Jacqueline Sadler) is a vibrant one. Her own songs are melodic and completely approachable. Along the way she pays tribute to several figures. One nod is to W. A. Mozart with a number that's clearly based on the Serenade in G Major (better known as "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik". There's also a segment that sounds like it draws from Rogers and Hart (or Hammerstein) and others that seem to draw their lineage from contemporary pop music. I can't say which because I couldn't identify the tunes, but, many of the numbers did sound familiar. All of it was a joy to listen to. This material is catchy and made for humming in the car (or butchering in the shower, whichever happens first).

The musicians in the ensemble were excellent. (Jacqueline) Sadler herself handled the keyboard and second guitar while Tim Posgate handled the lead on that instrument. Kate Unrau played the violin and Kevin Dempsey carried the percussion. Various members of the cast added bits on extra instruments. Scott Piertrangelo performed some guitar work and Joseph O'Toole added some extra percussion. The timing and execution of all involved in that end of things was superb. Between them they created a sound so rich and full that it seemed as if far more players were involved.

There were some good voices to be heard in this cast as well. Heather Lea-Brown is a fabulous singer. Her tones literally soared above and beyond anything the rest of the ensemble did without intruding on what they were doing. That's no small achievement. Shawn Henry delivered some of the finest vocal work from any of the men cast with his first solo in the role J. H. Fairbank. That, and the number that followed (sung by Heather Lea-Brown) were two of the most moving musical moments in the production. Craig Maguire and Scott Pietrangelo showed some fine singing as well. (Incidentally, there's some excellent material available for download on Scott's Site. I've posted a link to it.)

The same couldn't always be said for the rest of the cast though. Sheldon Davis was was fine with the comedic and dramatic segments but less than stellar as a singer. His voice wasn't bad but there were a lot of flat notes in his delivery. The same was true of Cathy Elliot. Her acting was great but her singing voice wasn't that good. The same was true for many of the people who performed solo numbers. Their voices weren't bad but they need some training. That was especially true of the younger singers in the group.

But, in the end, none of that mattered. This was a wonderful production. The choreography of the musical and dance numbers (by Kerry Gage) was sensational. The lighting (by Wendy Greenwood) evoked images of the wonderful Technicolor masterpieces of yesteryear. The staging (by Robert More, Jackie Chau and several others) flowed easily and pulsated with a life of its own. The cast had fun. The musicians had fun, and the audience had fun. The ovation that closed the piece closed what was, literally, a foot-stompin' howler of a good time.

It may not have been perfect but it was live theatre at its most joyous. Loved it.

"Oil Rush" runs from August 12, 2008 through to August 30, 2008 at the Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia, Ontario. This review refers to the performance that took place at the Victoria Playhouse on Saturday August 16, 2008.

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