BWW Reviews: Shadowbox Live Goes Down the Rabbit Hole with UNDERLAND

With enough of a fan base to generate the nearly $20,000 needed to fully-fund its production in less than two weeks on its Kickstarter.com pledge site, Shadowbox Live's self-created musical, "Underland" opened to a not-surprisingly sold-out crowd last night. The original script, created by Shadowbox Head Writer, Jimmy Mak, is inspired by "Alice In Wonderland", but instead tells the tale of Albert Ice (Robbie Nance), a Vietnam veteran who is searching for his lost daughter in the 60's hippie culture of San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury District. While it has the feel of Shadowbox's fabulous, "Back to the Garden" in its opening scenes, this show immediately takes a much darker, mind-bending tone, and it's difficult to tell what is a drug-trip gone wrong, and what is Ice's completely warped post-traumatic stress-induced reality.

The entire Shadowbox ensemble is full of exceptionally talented singers and dancers, and I have yet to see a cast from start-to-finish as consistently complimentary, balanced, and of such tremendous talent as the group that is currently Shadowbox Live, though two of my favorite performers, Stacie Boord and Noelle Grandison were notably missing from this production, and there were definite spots where their inclusion would have enhanced the show. Choreography by Katy Psenicka is superb throughout, no more so perhaps than in Lovin' Spoonful's "Summer in the City", which was a simply tremendous dance performance by the entire ensemble. While the storyline, much like Alice In Wonderland itself, is convoluted, Mak's version is helped along by superb period musical choices, some of the best of the night being The Rolling Stone's "As Tears Go By" (sung by Robbie Nance and Edelyn Parker), Jamie Barrow's version of The Doors "Light My Fire", Nikki Fagin's rendition of The Young Rascals, "How Can I Be Sure", and a haunting version of The Who's "I Can See For Miles" sung by Tom Cardinal. Mak's plot loses strength a bit as he tries to weave together all of the fabulous musical choices while still advancing the storyline, but in the end, it pulls together nicely.

Nance is as terrific as always as troubled Albert Ice, with amazing vocals, and proves able to pull off sensitive and desperate, with an ever-present dose of completely unpredictable that makes his character intriguing. He is followed throughout the show by various voices in his head, brought to life as ghosts called Cat (Amy Lay), Mouse (Edelyn Parker), and Greenie (Tom Cardinal) whom only Albert can see. Amy Lay's one-armed reminder of Albert's mistakes, is eerily taunting and mysterious. She does a fabulous job creating a well defined character in a largely ambiguous role. Edelyn Parker's stuttering, sounding board is a calming factor for Albert, and serves to keep him moving forward. Parker, herself is always stellar, though she shines more dynamically singing and dancing in ensemble numbers this time than in the restrained, albeit more prominent, role. Appearing later in the show, Albert's soldier-ghost from the war, Tom Cardinal's Greenie, is confrontational and aggressive, and allows a side of Albert to emerge that brings the story full-circle. Turns by Shadowbox veterans, Mary Randle, who is perpetually fabulous, does a masterful job of grounding Albert in some temporary reality with her character, Duchess, and the equally skilled, Julie Klein as Carol Lewis (a nod to Alice In Wonderland's author, Lewis Carroll) also brings some much needed reality as Albert's friend from the VA hospital, as well performing a beautiful version of Procol Harum's, "Whiter Shade of Pale".

Other note-worthy performances go to the duo of BranDon Anderson as Mad Hatter-esque "Mercury", and Leah Haviland as his doped up girlfriend, "Harriet", who together deliver a stellar, and thoroughly entertaining version of Donovan's "Mellow Yellow" with the total dementia required of the traditional version of their roles, amplified to fit the needs of the show. The ending, complete with an interesting musical arrangement of The Four Tops' "I'll Be There" by Shadowbox newcomer, Annalisa Hartlaub as Ice's daughter, was both well-orchestrated, and an abrupt snap back to reality in a largely twisted show. I love Shadowbox Live for its immense talent, and more so for its unquenchable thirst to not only step outside of the box, but to blow the box apart, and this show holds true to what Shadowbox does exceptionally well- deliver unique, consistently fabulous entertainment that will leave you talking about them long after you've left the theater.

"Underland" runs Sundays at 2pm and again at 7pm, March 10, 17, and 24; April 7, 14, 21, and 28; May 5, 12, and 19 at their 503 S. Front Street , Columbus, 43215 venue. For tickets, go to: www.shadowboxlive.org

PHOTO CREDIT: Shadowbox Live