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Regional Reviews: Minneapolis/St. Paul Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story Also see Arthur's reviews of The Whale and Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Christmas Carol
The driving force in Buddy is the music. Thirteen Buddy Holly songs are performed, including such early rock classics as "That'll Be the Day," "Peggy Sue," "Not Fade Away," "Everyday," and "Raining in My Heart." Nicholas Freeman, making his third appearance as Buddy Holly on the History Theatre stage, brings a balanced mix of youthful energy and rebel angst, along with a convincing Texas twang, to the numbers, with stellar support from drummer Zac Spicer, bassist Ryan Jansen and guitarist Blake Foster as Holly's band the Crickets. Throw in a delightfully raunchy Chantilly Lace" by The Big Bopper (Brant Miller), a frenetic "La Bamba" by Ritchie Valens (Allen P. Malicsi), and soulful renditions of "Shout" and "Good Times" performed at the Apollo Theater, and this is a great night of music. The narrative provides a bare bones account of Holly's rise to fame, his short temper and unyielding commitment to play his music his way, his break through as one of the first white acts to appear at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem, his impetuous marriage to Maria Elena Santiago, to whom he proposed just five hours after their first meeting, and the fabled final concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. Holly was en route from there to Moorhead, Minnesota, for the next stop on the Winter Party tour when the plane that carried him, along with Valens and The Big Bopper, went down in a blizzard. There are large gaps in the story, such as the unexplained leap from a falling out at prestigious Decca Records to an unheralded studio in New Mexico where his career suddenly took off. But the gist is there, and more important, so is the music. When Buddy played Broadway in 1990, after a long run in England and a Toronto appearance, it was criticized for having too much glitz, not being true to the Americana roots embodied in Buddy Holly's music. Ron Peluso's direction maintains the feel of fresh invention and energy breaking free. Along with the music, choreographer Jan Puffer has the cast, supplemented with an eager-to-please ensemble, in constant motion, dancing at the back of the house when not on the History Theatre's thrust stage. The choreography is not in itself particularly impressive, fairly routine swing and rock moves, but the energy it stirs up is contagious, and just about everyone in the audience caught the bug at the performance I attended. Mr. Freeman does a strong job of portraying Buddy's development, over just two years, from a kid who just wants to rock out, to an artist with more ambitious ideas about where his music could go. Andrea San Miguel impresses as Maria Elena, believably being charmed and won over by Holly's weird by totally sincere snap-courtship. Zac Spicer and Ryan Johnson, as Buddy's original bandmates, credibly project puppy-dog loyalty early on, which dissolves into disillusion when Buddy's growing ambitions leave them behind. If you are interested in a deeper study of Buddy Holly's life and influence on popular music over the 55 years since his death, there are many books you can read, or watch the well-crafted 1978 biopic. If you prefer to get caught up in how it felt to be moved by the energy, defiance, and joy that poured out of Buddy Holly, this show is just the ticket. And if you can remember back to when these were the songs of your own youth, it's a bonus trip to a past you may have thought long gone. Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story continues at The History Theatre through January 4, 2015. 30 East 10th Street, Saint Paul, MN, 55102. Tickets from $25.00 - $45.00; students - $15.00; senior discount available. For tickets call 651-292-4323 or go to historytheatre.com. Special New Year's Eve performance with champagne (both alcohol and non-alcohol available) following the show, general admission prices $42 adult, $39 senior, $15 student, $10 children up to age 18. Writer: Alan Janes; Director: Ron Peluso; Original London production directed by: Rob Bettinson; Musical Director: Gary Rue; Choreographer and Co-Director: Jan Puffer; Assistant Musical Director: Andrew Fleser; Set Designer: Justin Hooper; Costume Designer: Lynn Farrington; Lighting Designer: Chris Johnson; Sound and Video Designer: C. Andrew Mayer; Properties Designer: Kirby Moore; Stage Manager: Janet L. Hall; Assistant Stage Manager: Diane Foss; Technical Director: Gunther Gullickson. Cast: Nic Delcambre (band leader and keyboards), Lynnea Monique Doublette (Candy and ensemble), Blake Foster (the 4th Cricket - guitar), Charles Fraser (Hipockets Duncan, Norman Petty, Emcee, Clear Lake Backup Singer), Nicholas Freeman (Buddy Holly), Laura Flanigan Hegge (Vi Petty and ensemble), Ryan Janssen (Joe bassist for The Crickets), Allen P. Malicsi (Ritchie Valens, ensemble), Mikayla McKasy (Apollo performer, ensemble), Brant Miller (J.P Richardson The Big Bopper, ensemble), Mack Moren (Apollo performer, ensemble), Bryan Porter (DJ at the Apollo, Engineer, Clear Lake Backup Singer), Andrea San Miguel (Maria Elena, ensemble), Zac Spicer (Jerry drummer for The Crickets), Mariah Timm (Shirley and ensemble), Munyaradzi Tirivepi (Denzel, ensemble), Alicia Trice (Apollo performer, ensemble), Angel Vance (understudy for Maria Elena). Ensemble: Nathaniel Brelsford, Samuel Castillo, Johannah Easley, Lexis Galba, Noah Ratgen, Lailah Reynolds, Fiona Steen, Ian Udulutch.
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