Last night, I caught a performance of Runaway Stage Production’s Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Community theater may not be Broadway-level snazzy, but Runaway’s production was a great way to pass an evening in a cool theater watching a hot, high-stepping, dance-fest of a performance. It’s not quite as high energy as the film, of course, but the Sacramento-based theater group puts on a lively show nonetheless.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers happens to by my all time favorite musical (and yes, I am a musical fan, you got me). Made during the Hollywood musical’s heyday, the 1954 film with Jane Powell and the incomparable Howard Keel – who made singing-Mountain-Man sexier than you’d ever think possible – was only later turned into a stage production (and not until the late 70s at that). And here-in lies the productions only problem: the inclusion of several “original” songs not featured in the film just don’t fit, stylistically or otherwise, with the rest of the original score. (The messag here: eventually, you should rent and watch the original film).

Last night’s show featured Scott Reese as Adam Pontipee, the rugged Oregon frontiersman who heads to town to stock up on supplies for the tough Northwestern winter and decides, while he’s at it, to pick up a wife because with seven brothers back home, the house is getting a tad messy. Don’t fret – it gets more pro-woman as the show goes on – becoming a great snapshot of the American home at several points in its development. Reese’s performance was strong – but perhaps overly-restrained. Despite being the first of the Seven Brothers, the role of Adam can come off quite small with less than Keel-level effort behind it. But when Reese let it out, full and robust, he easily carried his scenes.

Except of course when he was joined by Andrea St. Clair’s Milly.
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Ursula’s post about the Zoo event this weekend made me think about my other favorite Land Park summer activity: The Sacramento Shakespeare Festival.

Performed in the park’s lovely amphitheater, the performances provide a great excuse to enjoy the nighttime air, pack a picnic, and get your culture on all at the same time. There are only a few chances left this year to catch either of their two plays – Two Gentlemen of Verona and the always passionate Romeo & Juliet.

The festival has a long history and is always a great time. Go on – score major points for planning the most romantic and cultured first date possible before the curtain falls on August 6.

If you don’t have plans for Friday night, may I suggest checking out the band that takes fun fake fro wigs to a whole new level? That’s right, Wonderbread 5 are in town at Harlow’s. Described on the Harlow’s site as 80s and 90s Dance, Wonderbread 5 is so much more than your average cover band. These guys can cover pretty much everything you can think of – and they do cover pretty much everything you can think of, plus at least an hour of what you never would’ve thought of. As long as you can stand the vapid groupies who toss themselves up on stage, at first to the amusement of the band and then, seemingly, to their chagrin, you’ll love the rest of the show – the music, the spectacle, the, did I mention, fros.

Tickets are $15 and you can grab them online here.

This weekend, Harlow’s plays host to local favorite Tainted Love. The band, which frequents the midtown venue, covers 80s tunes you love and love to hate – some of which will worm their way into your head and refuse to leave for the remainder of the weekend, I’m sure.

Buy tickets at the door for $15 or online for a $2 additional charge. The show starts at 10pm. Mention you read about the show here and get . . . well nothing except the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping to promote Sacramento’s newest online resource. See you there!