Sam Houston State University’s Musical Theatre
Department’s musical revue of songs from Belgian composer Jacques Brel was a
show to see. If you are a musical theatre lover, like myself, then this
production, composed of 22 musical numbers with little to no spoken word in
between, will leave you wanting a 23rd act.
The songs performed in the revue were so diverse it
made you wonder how Director Dr. Laura Avery intertwined them so seamlessly
together. There were songs about love, childhood, lost loves, war and a few
whimsical tunes to lighten the mood.
The show was set in a jazz club in Montmartre
Arrondissement, a district in Paris, and the scenery displayed on stage made
the audience feel as though we were in that exact spot. From the very top of
the stage came down a panel with the name ‘Jacques’ written over it with cut
outs that were meant to display windows and a larger cut out to represent the
entrance into the club. From the audience’s point of view, it looks as though
we are looking into the club from the windows. At times, the panel would fly in
and out of the scene depending on if the song called for it.
When the panel was not displayed, the setup of the bar
was very detailed and had strong notes of realism. There were old style tables
and chairs to fit with the 1960’s theme. The bar was made of what looked like
real wood and the bottles kept behind the bar looked as if you could really
have a drink in this club. On the apron of the stage there was a street-looking
set that had street lights posted on both ends of the stage and a bench where a
few musical numbers were enacted. There were also set tables for potential
customers to sit outside, enjoy a cup of tea and listen to the music pouring
out of the club. The set really helped me as an audience member delve into the
world that was Jacques’.
The show was sung from beginning to end. The songs
were placed in an order that truly told a story of each patron in the club.
Many of the performers in the production played more than one role. For
example, there was one performer who went from an average patron in the club to
being a gypsy on the street singing of the devil.
The costume aspect of the show helped with the
distinction of the new characters. The costumes for each character in the bar
fit the song or songs they were singing as well as what kind of person they
were trying to portray. Even the costumes for the band for this show blended in
perfectly. The band was composed of a drummer, guitarist, pianist, bassist and
a reeds player. In
most musicals a live band is common, but you don’t see the band. However, this
band was in plain sight and it fit with the story being told.
After six songs in a row, I needed a little bit of a
breakup between numbers. Even though there was no spoken relief, there were
dance numbers throughout the show. I feel that the dances added another element
to a number rather than taking away from the message of the song. The dances
were a welcomed distraction from the rhythm of the song-after-song show.
In conclusion, I had a wonderful evening at Jacques’. I was in awe of the musical talent we have here at SHSU. There was a beautiful range in vocal talents and each song told a different tale. After seeing this show I am excited to see what other musical journeys SHSU’s Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre will embark on.