SHOW REVIEW: The Door - A Musical

HARTFORD May 23, 2009: The Door - A Musical made it's debut at The Theater for the Performing Arts, Hartford. The evening show was an incredible performance. This musical is a rendition of the original play, The Door, written by playwright, pastor and television producer, J. Stan McCauley. Marcus a. Jarvis, who made his debut as director, composed and produced the music and songs. The cast consists of both seasoned and non-seasoned performers and include, Chareese Carter (actress | singer), Victoria Cruse (debuting actress | singer}, Imogene Ellison (actress | singer), Visalah Ellison,(actress | singer) Marcus A. Jarvis (actor |dancer | composer | singer and more), Marlene P. Jarvis (debuting actress | singer}, Gerry Williams (actor | singer | gospel mime |radio broadcast host and more), and Vilinda McGregor Williams (actress | singer | fine artist).

The Music. Marcus A. Jarvis composed an awesome series of songs relating to each of the play's main characters and their story. Each song is stand alone and unique. Each is incredible and top shelf. To open the musical, Jarvis composed an instrumental piece that combines a classical temperament, seasoned with jazz and gospel chord structures, resulting in an incredible melodic journey of life's ups and downs. Soulful, with intricate rhythms, the underlying melody calls to mind shades of Duke Ellington's unique composition style, rendering the piece unforgettable.

The Dance. Mercy Revealed (a praise dance group from Bibleway Temple Nation in Hartford) member, Sazjanee Stringer, choreographed and performed an exceptional dance scene to the opening instrumental that sets the tone for what is to follow. Stringer, a high school student at Hartford's Arts Academy, wowed us with her ability to take a difficult instrumental composition -- especially for someone 16 years old -- and so accurately convey the underlying theme of the play through her solo dance.

Th Cast. Chereese Carter's character, "Charlene," is a mother who has lost one son to gang violence resulting in his death. Her surviving son has begun to follow in his deceased brother's footsteps of drugs and violence. Gerry Williams portrays "Lenny," Charlene's surviving son." The audience is pushed to the edge of their seats in fear and anguish when "Lenny" physically attacks his mother, beating her down onto the couch as "Charlene" tries to persuade "Lenny" to leave the life he is living. "Lenny" storms off stage in his rage and "Charlene" transforms the scene's darkness into one of hope through her incredible song delivery .

Vilinda McGregor Williams portrays, "Beverly," who is a self-made millionaire by stopping at nothing to achieve her wealth and fame, including murder. "Beverly" is not easily persuaded that her life is missing some of the most fundamental elements, humanity and service to others. "Beverly" insists that she is a self made woman and expresses her loathing of those who are less fortunate. In the end, she finally comes around and expresses her freedom from the clinging only to material wealth and loathing of others with her wonderful delivery of her in song.

Mother and daughter in real life, Imogene and Visalah Ellison, portray mother and daughter in the play. Their performance is riveting, taking us on a journey of generational abuse that is so deftly portrayed by each. The audience is swept up in an emotional whirlpool as the "daughter" acts out her mother's abusive ways that she learned from her "mother" by burning her doll as a form of discipline. The "Mother" sees her daughter burning her doll and in turn, takes a "hot comb" and burns the hand of the "daughter." Imogene and Visalah's performance was done so well, one not needed to know their character names. Their duet at the end of their scene is equally riveting, as both are accomplished singers.

Making their debut on stage are Marlene P. Jarvis "Linda Carrington" and Victoria Cruse "Tina." "Linda Carrington" is a wealthy woman who is white and delves into racism in a way that while raw is comedic. Although new to the stage, Jarvis performed with ease and confidence, allowing the audience to easily journey down a difficult path through subtle humor. "Tina" is a prostitute addicted to drugs and has been consistently betrayed by those whom she trusted, especially men. "Tina" finds solace in her usage of drugs, telling the audience that her drugs are her only friend. Cruse is amazing in her portrayal of Tina. Never faultering or skipping a beat, Cruse brought her character to life, displaying her talents both as an actress and singer.

Marcus A. Jarvis, besides directing the play and composing the original score, also acts in the play. His character is "Charlie," a "happy" drunk who has fallen into bad times after serving in the military. "Charlie" starts out with much humor, causing us to laugh as he captures everyone with his playfulness. But then the darkness appears when "Charlie" stops being humerus and tries to shoot himself with his gun. The humor turns to irony as "Charlie" becomes frustrated with the realization that his gun is unloaded. His scene ends with an a song, "I'm Just A Soldier trying to Find My Way Home" that, like the rest of the music, is grand bth in delivery and composition.

Every good musical has a grand finale. The audience awaits that final moment when all come on stage to sing one last time before the final curtain. The final scene of this wonderful musical begins with "Charlene," whom "Lenny" thought had died of heart failure, entering on stage and singing with "Lenny," "God Will Show Up Right On Time," also an original piece. And so the entire cast comes out on stage, joining "Charlene" and "Lenny" in singing this final song. "You better get up! Don't you give up! God will show up, right on time."

The End. Like all great stories, the ending is filled with hope and high spirits.

---

Visit FrontStage
FrontStage Network: A gathering place where artists from all across the artistic spectrum and genre share their talent, thoughts and ideas.