Outstanding 'Candide' opens Summer Lyric at Tulane season

JOHN PERKINS

NEW ORLEANS - Tulane Summer Lyric opened its season this week with "Candide" a musical by Leonard Bernstein, adapted for the stage by Hugh Wheeler based on Voltaire's 1759 novelette. Richard Wilbur is the lyricist with additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and John Latouche.

This season, which has started with a spectacular staging that sees Broadway united with the operetta is the first in what is probably a first for Summer Lyric, an entire season honoring Bernstein with "West Side Story" and "Wonderful Town" to follow.

"Candide" tells the story of a young man, the illegitimate nephew of a German baron who grows up in the baron's castle under the tutelage of the scholar Pangloss who teaches him that this world is "the best of all possible worlds."

A handsome youth, Candide falls in love with the baron's daughter, the pretty Cunegonde and she with him. Unfortunately for Candide this is not welcomed by the baron and his family, the handsome Maximillian, as well as Paquette the Baroness' buxom serving maid, and when Candide is caught kissing Cunegonde, he is expelled from the castle and begins a series of experiences that will give him a real sense of what life is all about.

He finds himself drafted into the army and later as he wanders away from the camp is tried as a deserter which finds him tied up in a sack but he remains true to the ideas that Pangloss has instilled in him that there has to be a reason for all of this because this is the "best of all possible worlds."

Meanwhile the baron's castle is invaded and all are killed except for Cunegonde who is spared by a soldier who hopes to gain a fortune by selling her to the other soldiers. With her newfound sexual knowledge she becomes a prostitute and later the mistress of a wealthy Jew and the Grand Inquisitor sharing her time with them.

Candide, still on his own, accidentally meets up with Pangloss who and is happy to see his tutor once again but because of Pangloss' philosophizing before a spy for the Inquisitor they are arrested and tried for heresy. Pangloss is sentenced to hang but Candide escapes after a severe beating and is befriended by an old woman who nurses him back to health and later manages to get him into Cunegonde's apartment where the two lovers are happy to see one another again.

But there are other problems that come their way as the Jew who has come to see his mistress is angry at finding Candide there and draws his sword intending to kill Candide. In the struggle that ensues, the sword hits the floor and Candide retrieves it just in time for the Jew to make a rush at him and becomes impaled on his own sword. Later. the Inquisitor arrives and with Cunegonde's help. Candide also dispatches him and now the two lovers and the old lady flee, boarding a ship heading for the New World.

Needless to say, their problems don't end there but there is some hope at the end of the rainbow that helps bring this tale to an ending that is appeasing to all.

Leonard Bernstein's score surrounds the story and while it may only have one piece that rings with the air of familiarity, it is a score that fits the tale nicely.

B. Michael Howard is directing the action here and he has done a splendid job of bringing the story with its many twists and turns to the stage with the assistance of a splendid cast who are also well equipped vocally.

Ricky Graham is seen as Pangloss and when you see his name in a program you can be sure that he will be playing it with comedy in mind and he doesn't disappoint here as he is responsible for many of the laughs that come from this production.

In the role of Candide is Kyle Malone and this young man is excellent in the role displaying a certain amount of naivete in his performance that fits his character perfectly. Additionally, he has a splendid tenor voice that is heard throughout on many of the songs including "Life Is Happiness Indeed" "Oh Happy We" among the list.

Cunegonde, the beauty with whom Candide falls in love is portrayed by Melissa Marshall who is simply outstanding in the role and with her beautiful soprano voice to give life to the songs, she is greeted by shouts of brava from the audience, particularly after her performance of "Glitter and Be Gay."

Elizabeth Argus has the role of the Old Woman, and she, too, brings an outstanding character to the stage with her performance, adding to it with her excellent vocal work.

Paquette, the maid servant in the baron's household is excellently portrayed by Samantha Gill who also brings a fine voice to the action.

The final member of the principals here is Joey Quigley as Maximillian, the handsome son of the baron and brother to Cunegonde. Quigley plays it for the comedy which becomes evident upon his entrance where he carries a mirror and examines his face in minute detail as he sings "Life Is Happiness Indeed."

There is a very large female and men's ensemble that inhabits the stage in a variety of characters. Among this group, Mark Burton is the Grand Inquisitor and Randy Juneau is seen as the rich Jew. On the female side, Ruth Ann Blake and Brandi Cotogno are seen as the sheep singing "The Sheep's Song"

Rick Paul has designed the complex set every inch of which gets used during the course of the evening and Daniel Zimmer provides the lighting.

Choreography is by Edmond Kresley and the costuming is the design of Charlotte lang with Don and Linda Guillot supplying the wigs and makeup.

Musical Director C. Leonard Raybon conducts the orchestra which, for this story, is concealed behind the stage action,)

"Candide" has one final performance this afternoon in Dixon Hall on the Tulane campus.