Side Show

Critiqued by Holly Bartges

June 16, 2008

Come Look At The Freaks! Yes, you’re being invited to come look at the Freaks. Go ahead. No need to be embarrassed, no need to be defensive. They’re inviting you. They want you to go look at them, really look at them. You’ll see Violet and Daisy Hilton, Siamese Twins, Jake the Cannibal King, The Bearded Lady, The Reptile Man, General Tom Thumb, his wife Lavinia, and daughter, Little Thumb, the Tall Man, and The Strong Man. They’ll parade and strut their stuff for you to look, gawk, wonder, and sniggle, if that’s what you really want to do.

L-R: Nick Ortiz Trammell (Terry Connor) Jenna Bainbridge (Daisy Hilton), Regan Linton (Violet Hilton), Mark W. Dissette (Buddy Foster) and (in background) Leonard E. Barrett, Jr. (Jake) Photo credit: Michael Ensminger

A very small Carnival has set up show in West Denver. There’s a Ferris wheel, and few other unidentifiable rides from the street. Whether they have a Side Show is unknown, but Side Shows have been notorious companions to Carnivals.

However, this small Carnival set up in a corner of a shopping center isn’t the center of attention. The immediate center of attention is a Side Show all right, but Side Show produced by PHAMALY (The Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Actors League) currently running at the Space Theatre in the Bonfils Complex at the DCPA.

Side Show, Music by Henry Krieger, with Book and Lyrics by Bill Russell, chronicles the lives of Daisy and Violet Hilton, Siamese Twins from 1933-1936 from obscure Side Show Freaks to their rise as beloved Vaudevillian performers. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1997, and although garnered four Tony Award Nominations, the show didn’t win any. The show was specifically written for non-challenged actors. It took people’s breath away to watch physically fit actors pretend to be physically handicapped. Believable consistency astonished theatregoers. If believable consistency is what theatregoers want, PHAMALY has Broadway beat by 10 miles and then some.

This production of Side Show is different, waving a flag of authenticity. The actors don’t have to pretend anything. PHAMALY produced Side Show in 1999, gaining National and International attention. Now in its 19th year, PHAMALY began in 1989 with a handful of physically challenged actors who, after graduating with theatre degrees, faced the reality that not too many auditions would result in real roles for them in the theatre world. Why not form their own company? Why not show the world that acting has very little to do with how one walks, or doesn’t, or talks, or doesn’t, or sees, or doesn’t, or hears, or doesn’t, it has to do with heart, soul, spirit, and talent. PHAMALY has it all, and then some.

In spite of the attention gleaned in 1999, the production bothered me. The cast was exhausted. I saw the strain on their faces. I had interviewed one at the beginning of rehearsals. His eyes danced with excitement. On that Opening Night in 1999, I watched him just before he rolled his electric wheel chair onto the set, and my heart sank. No dancing eyes then. His face drawn with fatigue and strain, and I wondered why. The production dragged on too long. As always, I stood in admiration of who these people were, what they accomplished, their immense talent, their courage, their determination, but when push came to shove, the 1999 production wasn’t their best. They will tell you that themselves.

The 2008 production is a completely different story. Under the direction of Steve Wilson with co-choreographers Debbie Stark and Cindy Bray, this current running production is a masterpiece of performance, with Tina Anderson conveying time and place with her inspired scenic design, and Linda Morkin fitting actors and characters with perfected costumes, and Dave Mazzeno’s lighting design dancing with the changing moods, determination, and frustration of the characters and development of the story.

The inspired graceful moves of the choreography blow the mind in awe. The direction of each scene comes sharp and clear with and for each character. The voices under the musical direction of Scott Lubinski are punctuated with beauty, poignant lyrics, and heartfelt belief.

In a double wheel chair, the roles of Violet and Daisy are wondrously and beautifully played by Regan Linton and Jenna Bainbridge. Their voices pure gold, their smiles dim spotlights, conflicting emotions shatter sound waves. Their portrayal of Daisy and Violet simply magnificent.

The two brothers, the Bosses of the Traveling Sideshow, played by Don Mauck and Stephen Hahn grit their teeth with self-service greed. Violet and Daisy make money for them. Their only concern. Their only interest. Mauck and Hahn rattle theatre walls.

The conjoined twins catch the eye of Buddy Foster, an actor strongly played by Mark Dissette who introduces them to Terry Connor, a talent scout and press agent for Vaudeville’s Orpheum circuit. There is doubt at first, but Buddy is determined. They’ll have to face the Bosses. They’ll have to convince Violet and Daisy to move out of their comfort zone away from their Side Show family, to believe they can be stars in their own right.

What happens when the twins feel the pang of romance, the ache to be loved as they are? What happens when Buddy and Terry fall in love? What happens when fear overcomes honest feelings? When honest feelings turn to pity and duty? And fear of exploration of feelings freezes into noncompliance? Side Show marches right through the emotions, and the actors leave their vulnerabilities backstage to honor the show’s intent with strength, power, truth, and grace.

This production will change your life. Small prejudices melt under the power of humanity claiming equality.

Leonard E. Barrett, Jr takes on the role of Jake the Cannibal King. He’s more than that. He’s Violet and Daisy’s dearest friend. Jake loves them more than he allows himself to admit. When the Twins break from the Side Show, Terry and Buddy invite him to come along. Barrett’s intensity as Jake and powerful voice curdles the spine with the songs The Devil You Know, and You Should Be Loved. Linda Worth proudly displays The Bearded Lady. Jason Dorwart cavorts as The Reptile Man. Edward Blackshere smiles and struts as General Tom Thumb, with Donna Gunnison as his wife, Lavinia, and Molly Nash their daughter, Little Thumb, Sean McGee stands out as the Tall Man, and Michael Danahey flexes his muscles as The Strong Man. Lucy Roucis lays it on thick as Dolly Dimples a burlesque dancer. Greg Vigil rolls triumphantly as the Fakir, a Mystic who carries his own magic.

There’s more. Mimi Holmes as Delilah, the Cannibal Queen, Angie Aguilar as The Lizard Woman, Matt McCarthy plays The Geek who bites the heads off small animals, Kevin Pettit represents The Sheik, Katrina Weber and Samantha Barrasso flaunt their wares as Harem Girls.

The magnificent songs permeate the atmosphere with poignant spears: Like Everyone Else, You Deserve A Better Life, Feelings You Have Got To Hide, Leave Me Alone, We Share Everything, and Love Me As I Am mixing Broadway, Jazz, and Rock with explosive shudders.

Poignant as the production of Side Show is, one of the hidden magical qualities is that for slightly over two hours you forget these are people with disabilities. You see highly trained artistic actors convincing their audience they are Freaks in a Side Show. You see curious minds and hearts as big as all outdoors. You see humanity at its finest with developed “I Can” and “I Will” attitudes who have a tremendous amount to give, and teach about what it means to be a human being. With all of that transpiring in a little over two hours, just think what the magic of their lives can do for the rest of the 24 hours in any given day.

Anyone living with a physical disability, having been bitten by the theatre bug can join PHAMALY. Anyone who does, receives a promise their lives will never be the same. PHAMALY represents a variety of challenges: Alport Syndrome, American Syringomyelia, Brain Injuries, HIV, Spinal Cord Injuries, Bipolar Disorders, Fanconi Anemia, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, Blindness, and Hard of Hearing.

PHAMALY represents these challenges, and then some, but PHAMALY isn’t these challenges. PHAMALY consists of some of the most courageous, determined, inspired members of the human race I have ever known with warmth, depth, and talent permeating their souls.

For each production special attention must be given to accommodate specific needs. The unsung heroes of PHAMALY are the numerous volunteers who provide transportation, assist in dressing, providing whatever needs are necessary for the actors. Would that on Closing Night, they can be nudged to the stage to take their own celebratory Bow. Without them PHAMALY’S productions could not exist.

Sunday, June 29, PHAMALY offers one more Free behind-the-scenes Sensory Tour of Side Show beginning at 10:45 AM in the Bonfils Lobby. The 45-minute adventure employs multiple senses to enhance the theatre experience. The technical and artistic staff share secrets of the set, props, and costuming. An ASL interpreter will be available if requested. Following the tour a light lunch will be served and PHAMALY Board members will be available to answer questions concerning the actors and production. Tickets for the 2:00 PM show will be only $22.00 for those who go on the tour. The lunch is optional and costs only $5.00. Reservations for the Sensory tour are required as it is limited to 20 participants. Call Gloria Shanstrom at (303) 778-7724. Wheelchair seating and headsets for Audio Description for an American Sign Language interpreter are available at no extra charge. When calling for reservations, make the need known. A three-day advance reservation is requested. Do it! The word is the Tour is an astonishing revelation.

PHAMALY’S production of Side Show is simply not to be missed. It holds a gift of magic tied in a red velvet bow for everyone calling for reservations. Do it! Now!

Side Show Based on the true story of Siamese twins Violet and Daisy Hilton; Book & Lyrics by Bill Russell; Music by Henry Krieger; Directed by Steve Wilson; Musical Direction by Scott Lubinski; Choreography by Debbie Stark & Cindy Bray