Manatee Players Win Hearts With 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'

Young ladies everywhere can learn a lesson from Milly's tale: While it's an effective strategy to win a man's heart by going through his stomach, in reality, you may get more than you bargained for. 

Milly learned the hard way by beguiling Adam with her tasty dishes in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," directed and choreographed by the ' Rick Kerby. Little did Milly know, once Adam wooed her into marriage, she'd be keeping house for not just him, but his six brothers, as well.

Adam, played by the strapping William E. Masuck, sings his way into Milly's heart with such a rich tone that any single lass is sure to swoon at his feet. Matching Masuck's machismo with sassy grit is Wendy James, who makes her return to the Manatee Players with such a solid performance as Milly that it's no mystery who's wearing the proverbial pants in this production.

But Milly and Adam's romance is just the beginning of this tale, based on the MGM film of the same name and "The Sobbin' Women," written by Stephen Vincent Benet. To free herself from a life of tending to a husband and six bachelors, Milly gussies up the rough-and-tumble boys and takes them to a dance where they meet some lovely girls from town. 

A 19th century dance-off leads to a fight, and the brothers, now bit by the love bug, sink into melancholy when the townsfolk shoo them away. The boys drop Milly's traditional courting style and pick up Adam's plan of kidnapping the women. Shocking as that strategy may seem, well, let's put it this way: There's just no stopping young love.

"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" is filled with wonderful songs and first-rate singing, particularly with the break-out performance by Jason Ellis as youngest brother Gideon. 

The choreography is at its best with the ensemble dances, with high-kicking, fast-paced energy. Yet, some of the solos lacked the same intensity and commitment. The orchestra, led by musical director Aaron J. Cassette, was fun and flawless and the set, led by scenic/projections designer Marc Lalosh, was intricate and genius, swiftly taking the audience from the middle of town to a cabin in the middle of nowhere in mere seconds. With an eye for detail, costume designer Jean Boothby hit just the right notes for 1850s Oregon garb in every scene.

The Manatee Players production of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" runs through May 20 at the . The young, exuberant cast in this lively musical is full of heart — and they just might steal yours, too.