Theater Review: 'The Bodyguard The Musical' by City Stage Company

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member Nancy Sasso Janis

The Waterbury-based City Stage Company is presenting a sparkly production of the Whitney Houston musical "The Bodyguard The Musical"-- full of sparkling performances, sparkling music and sparkly costumes.

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"One Superstar. One Stalker. One Bodyguard."

Donovan Shaw directs the wonderfully talented cast with panache, and also covered the dramaturgy and the projection design. Shaw notes that "The Bodyguard" is more than a collection of beloved Whitney Houston songs. "It is a story about the distance between the public celebrity and the private person. Rachel Marron exists at the center of an enormous machine of managers, musicians, security personnel, publicists and fans. As a Black woman at the highest level of an industry, she must protect her privacy and family, knowing that her confidence may be called arrogance, her caution coldness, her anger ingratitude."

Shaw graduated from WestConn with a BFA in Musical Theatre last year, where I saw some of his work at WestRep Stage, and now teaches K-8 musical theatre to the lucky students at Kinsella Performing Arts Magnet School in Hartford.

The director then explains why his production places these tensions at the center of the theatrical experience by creating an intimate black-box environment onstage to bring audiences into Rachel's world. While "The Bodyguard" is an iconic love story, Shaw reminds us that it is also a thriller. Therefore, "we want you to feel as though you have entered one of her concerts, surrounded by the band, lights and energy of a superstar, only to discover that the world around her is beginning to crumble; you are along for the ride for the romance, the thrill and everything in between."

Sitting on the stage gives the audience an up close and personal view of the performers and in this case succeeded in giving us the feeling of being at a Rachel Marron concert. The trade off is that by sitting so close to the onstage orchestra, it was difficult for the microphones to effectively make the voices heard above the accompaniment. Even when the orchestra wasn't playing, I missed some dialogue when an actor was not facing my side of the stage.

Actor's Equity member Bobby Earl Henry works with his good friend Shaw as both the associate director and also designed the outstanding costumes for the show. The gowns and stage costumes for Rachel are stunning, and all of the ensembles are perfect for each of the characters. The associate director will be directing "The Boys in the Band" at City Stage Company.

Mona Swain is perfectly cast in the role of the spoiled actress and singer Rachel Marron, who was played by Whitney Houston in her feature film acting debut. This beautiful performer sings the classic songs with power as she portrays the diva at the forefront of the action. Swain shines in "Greatest Love of All" and the Houston version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You."

August Kittleson, a New England-based actor, director and recent graduate of Tufts University, takes on the role of Frank Farmer, the dedicated bodyguard. He gives a strong performance.

Joy Ike, a graduate of Eastern CT State University, takes on the role of Rachel's overshadowed sister Nicki and sings very well. Dwayne Gonzalez, a middle school student at Kinsella, plays Rachel's son Fletcher.

Zayda, another WCSU graduate, works with this troupe for the first time to convincingly play the agent Ray Court and Angie. Kati Seppa, a talented dancer, plays the drunk college girl in the Karaoke scene.

Darlene Fernandez, a CT-based actress, poet and community leader, takes on the supporting roles of Klingman, Darlene and Jimmy. Sévon, who played Danny Zuko in the international tour of "Grease," plays Rachel's manager, Bill Devaney. Featured ensemble member.Robert Williams shines in the role of Rory, and whenever he is onstage.

Corrine Dandelski, a CCSU student, plays Rachel's driven publicist Sy Spector. Griffin O'Neil plays Tony Scipelli, the previous bodyguard, in his CSC debut. Luke Le is credited as featured ensemble.

Kevin Kiley is revealed to be Rachel's Stalker and is appropriately scary in his performance. Parker James appears as a waiter, a stage manager and is a member of the featured dance ensemble. WinnieFred Carter, a member of the dance ensemble, plays Monique.

Shannon Sobolow served as music director during the rehearsal process, while Marcel Paige could be seen conducting the orchestra that he had coordinated while covering the woodwinds. The eight member orchestra made great music together. There were two pit singers that I could not find in the printed program that deserve a shout out

Meghan Alexander is the choreographer of the dancing that appeasr in some of the musical numbers. Catherine Pelkey is the production stage manager. Lighting design by James Accetura looks great from the onstage view and Kevin Pelkey did the best he could with the sound design. Michael Ricciardone is credited with intimacy coordination.

The production team offers an audience advisory that the show contains simulated firearms, theatrical gunshot sound effects, scenes of violence, flashing lights, theatrical haze and mature themes. I found all of these to be mild in nature.

I do not think that I have ever seen the film version, so I did not know what to expect from this show on my first viewing. I was pleasantly surprised that it is much more than a jukebox musical and I found it thoroughly enjoyable. The CYT production of "The Bodyguard" will be performed on the stage at Crosby High School through Aug. 22. thecyt.com. It is presented with a 15-minute intermission.

All photos by Derek Ward Used with permission