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Regional Reviews: Florida - West Coast Amahl and The Night Visitors Also see Bill's reviews of A Christmas Story and A Christmas Carol
Having participated in several productions of the show, I knew it would present a real challenge to find voices capable of doing justice to these parts and to reduce the full orchestral palette to a piano or maybe piano and a few pieces. The production is more successful than not, giving local audiences a chance to experience it. Diana Vytell as Amahl's Mother, possibly the most difficult role vocally, is the biggest success. She triumphs over most of the role's hurdles with aplomb. Jonathan Tyler does very well in the boy soprano title role. I spoke to his father at intermission and he confirmed what I suspected, that Jonathan's voice is just beginning to change. He would have been able to sing it more confidently a year earlier; in six months he will probably not be able sing it at all. I am very impressed with his musicianship (he also plays cello, his father says very well) and his entrances are all right on. Although he is not able to project as much as he might have before, he really does a fine job. His acting is quite good, but I wish he had been directed to use the crutch at all times, inside and out. An odd choice was made to cast a woman as King Kaspar, normally a tenor role. I would describe her voice as a real contralto, so she is singing on the same pitches as a high male would, which is ok for the fine ensemble work by the three kings, but not so much for the big aria, "This is My Box." Rod Rawling is King Melchior, leading off the glorious quartet "Have you Seen a Child," and Carlo Thomas, who also directs, is King Balthazar. Joshua Tomas Roberson is excellent as the Page. There is a small ensemble of young people to sing the chorus of the shepherds, and, although they sing well, they simply do not have the adult power to do justice to this music. Teresa O'Connell is the music director and plays well, but because of vocal limitations, cannot keep tempos as lively as I would have wished. Costumes, especially those for the Kings and the Page are a highlight of this production and are by Georgina Willmot. Scenery is by Ralph Nurmela and lighting designed by Patrick Bedell. Angie Garland is the stage manager. After intermission is a Christmas sing-along with the cast, including such favorites as "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," Angels We Have Heard on High," "The First Noel," "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night" among others. At the performance I attended, Mackenzie Grace stepped out of the chorus to favor us with "No Place Like Home for the Holidays." I have been plowing through The Complete Perry Como Christmas on 3 CDs, where he recorded this song three different times, so it is very much lodged in my brain at this moment. Johana Davila, one of the youngest of the children, stepped up to entertain us with "Jingle Bell Rock." I told her father in the lobby afterward that he needs to bottle her adorableness and sell it. Jacqueline Galvano has a really lovely voice, with a liquid legato, and sang "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Among the adults, Nancy Brining offered "Panis Angelicus" and Carlo Thomas sang all five or six verses of "You're a Mean One, Mister Grinch." I told him that Albert Hague, the composer, was smiling. He nodded that he had known him, which I did not. The Manatee Players are offering a lovely holiday entertainment which should delight families and all others. It was a disappointingly small audience when I attended, and I hope that changes. Manatee Players presents Amahl and The Night Visitors, through December 21, 2014, in the Kiwanis Theater at Manatee Center for the Performing Arts, 502 3rd Ave W., Bradenton; 941 748-0111, manateeplayers.com. Cast:
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