Have you ever had a bright, bold new
idea that no one else at the office understood or embraced? Have you ever had
to make a difficult choice between two important things – or people – in your
life?
Have you ever felt like your creative
energy was at a low ebb, or that you can’t find a new voice or vision in your
work? Have you ever felt like you don’t live up to the standards of your
ancestors who went before you?
If you’ve experienced at least one of these
feelings – and who among us hasn’t? – you’ll find something to connect deeply with
in EPAC’s production of “Sunday in the Park with George,” playing now through
Saturday at the Sharadin Bigler Theatre.
The musical presents a version of what
composer Stephen Sondheim and writer (and Franklin & Marshall College
alumnus) James Lapine imagined artist Georges Seurat’s life might have been
like – along with the lives of the characters in his paintings, and those of
Seurat’s descendants, if he’d had any.
The show also explores how Seurat
rebelled against the French art establishment by using pointillist techniques –
replacing the Impressionists’ brush strokes with dots of pure color arranged in
such a way that the human eye would “combine” the dots to see blended colors
and shimmering light in his painting. The show is also about the heart-rending
sacrifices an artist must sometimes make in his personal life.
And the musical is about Seurat’s
(fictional) artist great-grandson in America, also named George, who has lost
his unique vision amid his mad scramble to woo patrons and attract commissions.
Sondheim’s music is glorious, and
Lapine’s book is emotional and thought-provoking. Many audience members have
regretted leaving their Kleenex at home!
And EPAC has pulled out all the stops
to make this a memorable production of a wonderful musical. You’ll be delighted
with the show’s creative vision, the acting, the singing, the musicianship, the
set and the costumes. Kudos to the cast, crew, creative team and musicians who
have been “Putting it Together” for weeks, to the delight of audiences and
critics.
The show only runs through this
Saturday, May 17th. You do NOT want to miss your chance to see this
show that EPAC audiences will be talking about for years.
Thanks to EPAC’s season sponsor, BlueRidge Communications, and “Sunday’s” show co-sponsors, Lily’s on Main and SugarArts at Donecker's. When you patronize these sponsors, or run into their
employees, please give them a huge "THANK YOU!!" for supporting “theater that
matters” at Ephrata Performing Arts Center.
Order your tickets to “Sunday in the
Park …” online, or call the box office at (717) 733-7966.
- -- Merv Wright
