by Michele Markarian
“Head Over Heels: The Musical” – Based on “The Arcadia” by Sir Philip Sidney. Conceived and Original Book by James Whitty. Adapted by James Magruder. Produced and directed by Brian Boruta. Music Direction by David Wright. Choreographed by Lara Finn Banister. Presented by The Umbrella Stage Company, 40 Stow Street, Concord, through May 8.
“Arcadian culture has flourished with its adherence to tradition,” boasts King Basilius (Damon Singletary), who runs a tight, patriarchal ship that includes his wife, the Queen Gynecia (Katie Pickett) and two daughters, Philiclea (Temma Beaudreau) and Pamela (Bri Ryder). Pamela is already proving to be a problem, as none of the suitors her parents present to her year after year are to her taste. Younger sister Philiclea is also a problem, having fallen in love with a man beneath her station, a shepherd named Musidorus (John Breen). At the end of his patience, Basilius goes to visit the oracle Pythio (the magnificent Kai Clifton), who gives him four prophesies. Basilius, liking none of them, decides to hide the truth from his wife and daughters, much to the dismay of his manservant Dametas (Robert Saoud). What follows is two hours of light-hearted, gender-bending frivolity as the kingdom’s inhabitants vacate for Bohemia’s gates. With seventeen songs by the Go-Gos, this is an impossible show not to like.
The cast, who appear to be having a blast, are rich with vocal talent. Ryder, as the vain Pamela, is hilariously earnest as she sings “Beautiful”, a love song to herself. Beaudreau’s astounding vocal range is exhibited in “Good Girl”, with Ryder and her maidservant Mopsa (Lillian Salazar) lending gorgeous harmonies. Breen imbues “Mad About You” with unbridled enthusiasm; the number is hilarious. Pickett has a great low belt, which she puts to good use in “This Old Feeling”. Do the songs always fit the situation? Not really, particularly with the oddly placed “Here You Are”, but so what? It’s the Go Gos music reimagined! Is “Head Over Heels” sometimes heavy handed in its messaging? Maybe, but it’s done with so much fun and joy that it doesn’t feel preachy. Because in the end, of course, tradition is what’s killing Arcadia, and unless things change and a new, less heteronormative path is forged, Arcadia will wither and die for good.
Brian Boruta’s direction is as fluid as the characters onstage, who manage to keep up an energetic and lively pace. Janie Howland has designed a set that’s as colorful as the book, and lovely to look at, in bright, fluorescent colors, with light neon stools easily placed and moved by the cast. Brian Simons and Johnny Cagno have costumed the cast in pretty, colorful period pieces that complement the set. Pythio is the one exception; as ringmaster/mistress, they are clad in black. “This show is mental”, I said to my companion, meaning it in the best possible way. Who isn’t up for a little sexy, funny mental, after the long COVID winter we’ve been through? For tickets and information, go to: https://theumbrellaarts.org/
