Regional Reviews: Florida - West Coast Catch Me If You Can
The Players are definitely on a roll, with highly successful productions of Cabaret and Violet behind them. Catch Me If You Can takes them to even greater heights. The outstanding cast features James Hyde as Frank Abagnale, Jr. and Kenneth Rapczynski as Carl Hanratty. Both introduced themselves to area theatergoers in Manatee Players' Les Misérables a year and a half ago. Mr. Rapczynski played Jean Valjean in that production and I doubt Norbert Leo Butz, who won a Tony Award playing Hanratty will be taking on Valjean in the near future. Rapczynski shows strong acting chops in this role and of course has no trouble with the musical end. Mr. Hyde dominates the stage as a strutting teenager, partly because he is only a few years older, and nails the crooning vocals. The entire cast is vocally very strong, and the ensemble dancing brings memories of "Hullabaloo," a cheesy 1960s television show. Mark Athridge as Frank Abagnale, Sr., Jolie Rand as Paula Abagnale, Shelly Whiteside as Carol Strong, and Kenneth Basque as Roger Strong are all excellent. Holly Rizzo, also featured in the same production of Les Misérables is the audience favorite as Frank, Jr.'s fiancée Brenda Strong. Her song "Fly, Fly, Away" is the most moving in the show. Dewayne Barrett, director and choreographer, directs a flashy production. He makes great use of a unit set by Ryan Mueller that easily becomes a Vegas stage for the first act's big production numbers. His choreography is simple enough that his cast can perform it well but it still dazzles. Kenneth Mooney's costumes have exactly the right period look. Musical director/keyboardist Rebecca Heintz leads the largest band I have seen in community theater in agesnine additional pieces and the sound is rich and full. Everyone plays well and the energy level, so critical to this score, is blazing! Catch Me If You Can is certainly one of the highlights of a great season in our wonderful community theaters. Catch Me If You Can through April 4, 2015, at The Players Theatre, 838 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL. Box Office (941) 365-2494. For more information visit www.theplayers.org. Cast: Frank Abagnale, Jr.: James Hyde; Carl Hanratty: Kenneth Rapczynski; Frank Abagnale, Sr.: Mark Athridge; Paula Abagnale: Jolie Rand; Brenda Strong: Holly Rizzo; Carol Strong: Shelley Whiteside; Roger Strong: Kenneth Basque; Cheryl Ann: Nancy Creighton; Agent Branton: Joe Hunter; Agent Cod: Tony Boothby; Agent Dollar/Ensemble: Kurland Hoffman; Frank Jr. Understudy: Brian finnerty; Flight Attendants/Nurses: Sarah Baeder, Cheyenne Favel, Amanda Heisey, Melissa Ingrisano, Ellie McCaw; Jaimi McPeak, Rachel Nix, Leah Woodsum; Pilots/Agents/Dancers: Brian Finnerty,Chris Hines, Logan Junkins, Jean Paul Monde, Joseph Rabella, David Russell, Brian Strubbe; Ensemble/Women/Commuters/Carolers: Sharon Bartley, Gayle foster, Casey Kelley, Linda Roeming-Engle, Kay Siebold, Francoise Stotts, victoria Tokarz
Director/Choreographer: Dewayne Barrett; Musical Director: Rebecca Heintz: Lighting/Set Design: Ryan Mueller; Technical Director: Nate Myers; Sound Design: Seth Berry; Costumes: Kenneth Mooney
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