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Firebrand Theatre Presents QUEEN OF THE MIST Review – Clawing Her Way to Fame

Amy Munice
Firebrand Theatre QUEEN OF THE MIST

When Barbara E. Robertson on all fours becomes the growling tiger of Anna Edson Taylor’s demon drive for fame and glory, many, like this writer, may be stunned anew realizing how much we have been in this actress’ spell since she hit the stage.

From her opening solo when she turns to the audience and sings, “There is a greatness in me” we are mesmerized not so much by a crystal singing voice, but rather by such spot-on affect for every lyric that one imagines writer/composer Michael John LaChiusa wrote this part for her.

(left to right) Hannah Starr, Neala Barron, Liz Chidester, Barbara E. Robertson and Liz Bollar

One also imagines that LaChiusa stumbled upon this forgotten story of a woman who lived to tell the tale of how she went over Niagara Falls in a barrel while rummaging through old newspapers in an attic, and he couldn’t let it go.  Indeed, for this writer at least, LaChiusa’s inability to the let it go and allow the story to end becomes an unfortunate mar to an otherwise outstanding musical.

As in Marie Christine, LaChiusa brings us into the world of his characters in just a few lines and then with a few bars tunnels us deeper into these characters’ hearts.  Here and there a soulful clarinet solo or keyboards sounding like a harp punctuate the score with added feeling.

(front) Barbara E. Robertson with (back, l to r) Max J. Cervantes, Neala Barron, Liz Chidester, Hannah Starr, Liz Bollar and Maryam Abdi

We first meet Anna Edson Taylor as a down and out middle aged widow chased from town to town as she can’t pay the bills.  If she hadn’t made this claim to fame by barreling over the falls, she’d just be cast aside as a nutcase with delusions of grandeur, or as she notes, perhaps in other times, burned at the stake as a witch.  She gets her fifteen minutes of fame, and loses it, in a land full of hucksters.  Much of the story pivots on her friendship with one of them, her manager Frank Russell (performed by Max J. Cervantes), and Anna’s foil sister Jane (performed by Neala Barron), who instead of striking out for glory like Anna, bakes and breeds.  For those who have seen either Cervantes or Barron in other Chicago roles, it will likely not surprise that you never want them to stop singing.

For this writer, it is how LaChiusa peppers the script with cameos by historic footnote figures akin to Doctorow’s Ragtime that most delights.  As if to give us an elbow to get our attention, we briefly meet McKinley’s assassin similarly forgotten by time (performed by Mayam Abdi) , and in an especially fun second act highlight, we meet prohibitionist Carrie Nation (performed by Firebrand ensemble member Liz Chidester).

While this reviewer didn’t find much in the music that sticks enough to take it home, in real-time the delivery by all the outstanding voices on the stage is powerful.  These are great voices!  More, Director Elizabeth Margolius uses an exquisite eye to move this talented cast as an ensemble on the bare bones inside-a-barrel set, which you too will likely consider brilliant in its simplicity by show’s end (Set Design: Lauren Nichols).

(left to right) Barbara E. Robertson and Max J. Cervantes
(front, l to r) Liz Chidester and Hannah Starr with (back, l to r) Neala Barron, Barbara E. Robertson and Liz Bollar
(front, l to r) Liz Chidester and Barbara E. Robertson with (back, l to r) Maryam Abdi, Liz Bollar, Neala Barron and Hannah Starr

Recommended

Note: This is now added to the Picture this Post round up of BEST PLAYS IN CHICAGO, where it will remain until the end of the run. Click here to read – Top Picks for Theater in Chicago NOW – Chicago Plays PICTURE THIS POST Loves.

Watch this video showing the TOP PICK PLAYS of 2019

QUEEN OF THE MIST

Book, Music and Lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa
Director: Elizabeth Margolius
Music Director: Charlotte Rivard-Hoster

Cast (in alphabetical order): Maryam Abdi (Barker, others), Neala Barron (Jane, others, Anna u/s), Liz Bollar (New Manager, others – at select performances), Brianna Buckley (New Manager, others), Max J. Cervantes (Frank Russell), Liz Chidester (Carrie, others), Barbara E. Robertson (Anna Edson Taylor) and Hannah Starr (Young Soldier, others).

Production Team: Lauren Nichols (scenic design), Brenda Winstead (costume design), Carl Wahlstrom (sound design), Cat Wilson (lighting design), Wendy Huber (props deign), Daren Leonard (assistant director), Rose Hamill (production manager), Abbie Reed (technical director), Giselle Castro (sound operator), JC Widman (stage manager) and Martina Scofano (assistant stage manager).

When:

Thru July 6, 2019
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 3 pm

Where:

Den Theatre
1331 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago

Tickets:

For tickets visit the Firebrand Theatre website.

Photos by Michael Brosilow

Note: Picture This Post reviews are excerpted by Theatre in Chicago

Amy Munice

About the Author: Amy Munice

Amy Munice is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of Picture This Post. She covers books, dance, film, theater, music, museums and travel. Prior to founding Picture This Post, Amy was a freelance writer and global PR specialist for decades—writing and ghostwriting thousands of articles and promotional communications on a wide range of technical and not-so-technical topics.

Amy hopes the magazine’s click-a-picture-to-read-a-vivid-account format will nourish those ever hunting for under-discovered cultural treasures. She especially loves writing articles about travel finds, showcasing works by cultural warriors of a progressive bent, and shining a light on bold, creative strokes by fledgling artists in all genres.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY AMY MUNICE.

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