Blank Canvas’ production of ‘Side Show’ is well connected
Long before politically correct became the order of the day, they were known as “Freaks” and for “one thin dime” you could view their frightening deformities when the circus side show hit your town. These are the inhabitants of the Blank Canvas Theatre production of Bill Russell (Book and Lyrics) and Henry Krieger (Music) Side Show.
There is “The Dog Face Boy” (David Lenahan) who snaps and snarls much to the delight of the crowd, “The Bearded Lady” (Susan M. Wagner) with her luxuriant facial hair, “Bird Girl” (Meredith Aleigha Wells) whose nose more closely resembled a beak, “Lizard Man” (Joe Gibson) with his deformed brow made even more grotesque with the addition of green make-up, armless “Venus de Milo,” (Julie C. Okuley) along with “Half Man, Half Woman” (Katie Jerome Taylor), “Tattoo Girl” (Leah Kraynak), “The Fortune Teller” (Day Ash), “Three Legged Man” (Andrew Keller) and “The Human Pin Cushion.” (Jacob Schafer) The most famous of these human oddities was “The Hilton Twins” (Stephanie Harden and Becca Ciamacco) who were joined to the hip at birth.
Violet and Daisy Hilton were abandoned by their mother at birth and cared for by the mid-wife, (Susan M. Wagner) who delivered them. “Auntie” as the girls called her fell in love and married “Sir” (John J. Polk) who when Auntie suddenly passed away became their guardian and started the Side Show with the conjoined sisters as his featured act.
Enter Terry Connor (Joel Fenstermaker) an out of work promoter and Buddy Foster (Ian Jones) a failed song writer and choreographer who dazzle the girls with promises of top billing in the Orpheum Theatre Circuit. The twins leave Sir and the Side Show taking their caretaker Jake (Daryl Kelly) who was the company’s resident “Native Cannibal” who had in truth been born and raised in Trenton, NJ.
Fame and fortune soon follow for all five as the singing and dancing oddity is the hit of the Vaudeville Circuit during the height of the Great Depression. The girls are polar opposites of each other concerning their new career. While Daisy relishes the attention and fame, Violet would rather find a husband and settle down. Complications arise when Buddy falls in love with Violet and proposes to her as she is (with Daisy attached) while Terry professes his love of Daisy but only if the twins are separated. Added to this is the appearance of a Hollywood movie producer who needs the fame of the upcoming wedding in order to have the twins (still joined) star in his newest movie project “Freaks.”
With twenty seven songs there is no shortage of music in this slightly over two hour performance (with added ten minute intermission). What is amazing is the cast of seventeen actors being able to negotiate a stage area no larger than most folk’s living rooms with a double tiered thrust stage smack in the middle.
Stephanie Harden and Becca Ciamacco as “The Twins” do yeoman’s labor as they are featured in twenty one of the musical numbers while somehow avoiding being separated. Other notables are David Lenahan as Houdini during his Flashback Part 3 number and Daryl Kelley as Jake during his four numbers. The rest of the cast fills in the various roles and as a team to suitable ensemble work backed by a seven piece orchestra. The only complaint of note was that at times the orchestra slightly overpowered the under-microphoned cast. Director Patrick Ciamacco does well keeping this large group together through this intricate story telling process.
The show comes with a PG-13 rating so parents should be aware although no adult language was evident during the performance.
Long standing fans of Blank Canvas will enjoy this bit of musical oddness from the same company that has brought such off kiltered treats as Texas Chainsaw Musical, Silence the Musical, Sweeny Todd and others. Upcoming productions for this season include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, We Will Rock You, Cannibal and Avenue Q.
If your taste in theater tends towards the more avant guarde and whimsical, you will love this newest offering by Blank Canvas. While the sit time is a bit long, the endearing cast fills the time with rather brilliant orchestrations and songs. Well worth seeing.
The Blank Canvas production of Side Show will be on stage through April 28, 2018. Tickets may be purchased online by going to www.blankcanvastheatre.com/. The theater is located on the second floor of 78th Street Studios located at 305 West 78th Street, Suite 211, Cleveland, Ohio.