Saturday Night Fever @ The Firehouse Theatre
—Hannah Kneen
The ‘70s are stayin’ alive onstage at The Firehouse Theatre this month with the company’s lively production of Saturday Night Fever. Based on the 1977 Paramount/RSO film and the story by Nik Cohn, this jukebox musical is definitely a classic, and a great way to spend an evening (as long as you like having catchy songs stuck in your head for days after).
The story is simple enough: 19-year-old Tony Manero, played by the charismatic Edward Michael Escamilla, spends his weekends at the local discotheque to escape a dead-end job and limited life. There he encounters Stephanie Mangano—played by Averie Bishop, the reigning Miss Texas (surprise!)—who has a simply gorgeous voice. The duo soon dance their way into a relationship. They prepare to enter a dancing competition, hoping to win not only prestige but a hefty cash prize as well. Though a bit awkward at first, by the end of Act 1 the two characters were laughing together and having such fun I couldn’t help but find them charming. While the plot is not particularly unique or deep (a criticism often given to this story), the music and dancing was enough to make me want to put on my boogie shoes and join in the fun.
The two main performers were consistently in top form throughout the show. As for supporting roles, Emma Gervasi (Pauline) and Nicole Palmer (Candy) both sing beautifully (music direction is by Jason Philip Solis), and I definitely want to see, or more accurately hear, more of Palmer in coming productions. The group of guys Tony hangs out with are an entertaining bunch: Devin Johnson’s Bobby shows a lot of heart, and is surprisingly compelling in the conflict he feels about his relationship with Pauline—and his friends’ lack of sympathy.
Directors Ally and Owen Beans make great use of a limited but effective set (design and build by Logan Utenwoldt and Maggie Sproul). The transitions between scenes are smooth enough to keep from breaking the audience out of the story. Some members of the audience had dressed up to suit the ‘70s theme, and matched the riotous colors and style of Dayna Dutton’s costumes. Choreographer J. Austen Eyer does a fantastic job with choreography—the moves were as colorful as the clothing. Even the less-experienced dancers look good, and everything is sharp, clean, and well-rehearsed.
I really enjoyed the humor of the first number in the dance competition, “Open Sesame,” and the two following dances did a great job of serving the plot and framing the main couple’s sweet reconciliation. Great music accompanies great dancing, of course, and with a cluster of Bee Gees hits (and additional music by David Abbinanti), this production has both. Saturday Night Fever is undoubtedly a recipe for a groovy time; if that’s your bag, get your strut on for a fun and outtasight night at The Firehouse Theatre!
WHEN: May 11-28, 2023
WHERE: 2535 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch TX
