An Evening of Rodgers & Hammerstein
Scottsdale Plaza Resort, Scottsdale,AZ, March 6, 2021
Reviewed by Lynn Timmons Edwards
Producer David Hock (pictured) has planted seeds for what can be a new and much appreciated addition to the Arizona cabaret scene. Like all theaters, SMT’s production plans came to a halt when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Known for doing the big war-horse musicals (Man of La Mancha and My Fair Lady) SMT often rented large venues such as the Scottsdale Center for the Arts. But kudos to Hock for forming a new partnership with the Scottsdale Plaza Resort located at the intersection where the Valley’s winter tourist explosion meets neighborhoods with culturally hungry residents.
The cast of six included Nicole Bond, Taylor Hogan, Matt Newhard, Estrella Paloma Para, Josh Pike, and Adrian Ward, Jr. Each came to the stage with extensive local performing credits and training in voice and theater. On opening night, it was “A Grand Night for Singing” as the sold-out audience showed their appreciation while drinking at tables without masks and serenaded by song after song composed by the great team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. No programs were provided, and there was no emcee or patter, so each song stood on its own. The best material came when the singers related to each other rather than giving a concert behind the mic stand. Taylor Hogan, who makes her living in the noble profession of K-8 music education, is a charming ingenue with just enough sass to pull off the R-&-H character roles as well. She and baritone Matt Newhard played the entire “If I Loved You” sequence from Carousel as a believable Julie and Billy which helped set up Newhard’s 11-o’clock solo, “Soliloquy.” Hogan also charmed the audience with “I Cain’t Say No” and “When the Children Are Asleep” in duet with Josh Pike.
Although she did not offer up “Bali Hai,” Estrella Paloma Para would be a spot-on Bloody Mary. She has a big voice and a big heart. “Honey Bun” from South Pacific (with a brief appearance in drag by Newhard) and “Hello Young Lovers” from The King and I were her solos. She has both the wide range and the vocal technique needed to transition from soft round tones to a Broadway belt. Vocally, she was the harmonic strength in several duets and trios including “Stepsister’s Lament,” “Maria,” and “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair.”
Adrian Ward, Jr. is a handsome young man who moves well on stage. He struggled on opening night with vocal intonation and needs some pointers on microphone technique, but he was still a welcome part of the diverse cast. Pike, the youngest of the cast, has been on local stages since he was six. He showed off his comic character skills in “Kansas City,” and all three men were entertaining in “There Is Nothing Like a Dame.” Soprano Nicole Bond rounded out the cast and was featured on “It Might as Well Be Spring” from the film State Fair, which she sang in a much lower key than I expected given that she nailed all the high notes in the ensemble songs.
“That Was a Real Nice Clambake” is rarely heard outside of a full production of Carousel, and the cast recreated the moment using only two black chairs and the stage. The rousing “Oklahoma!” closed the show.
Bravo to music director and pianist Josh Hontz, who was accompanied by Kevin Hayward on percussion. As SMT becomes more familiar with the space and the art form of cabaret I hope that they will work out issues of wardrobe, storytelling, and audience interaction and add it to the quality singing which clearly is SMT’s forte.
An Evening of Rogers and Hammerstein runs Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. The show is sold out through March but has been extended through April. An Evening with Andrew Lloyd Webber opens in May. Ticket information is available at https://www.scottsdalemusicaltheater.com/
