Faith in the Hills

Ida Mae leads The Angels in HTM's production of LEAP OF FAITH
Ida Mae leads The Angels in HTM’s production of LEAP OF FAITH

LEAP OF FAITH is certainly a leap into the dark for the Hills Musical Theatre Company (HMTC). More known for traditional offerings such as next year’s Jesus Christ Superstar and Guys and Dolls, this thriving company has placed their faith in a 2010 Alan Menken and Glenn Slater musical taken from a 1992 film of the same name. A musical that closed in the Big Apple in 2012 after only 20 performances, losing millions of dollars.

HMTC’s production is the Australian premiere. Maybe what the Broadway show needed was more volunteers because this company has created a terrific show which is worth more than the 5 performance run it is getting.

Jonas Nightingale (Dave Bleier) is a pseudo evangelist, sham healer and ecclesiastical con man. His tour bus breaks down outside a dirtwater town in Kansas and he decides to hold a revival season while they wait a few days for the repair parts. Usually the third night of meetings is where the big bucks roll in and the troupe skips town.

His group consists of his sister, Sam (Jacqueline Bramwell) and “The Angels” his backup gospel choir led by the redoubtable Ida Mae (Penny Pettigrew). Stealing from these poverty stricken farmers will not be easy … they don’t have much. They are desperate for hope and Jonas sets about taking everything they have left on little but a promise of great miracles.

He’s happy to take an elderly widow’s wedding ring in return for some vague nonsense about her dead husband wanting her to sell her farm but there is one level head in the town. The dupes are fiercely protected by the town sheriff, Marla (Elizabeth Hogan), even though her crippled son is one of those taken in by the hoopla and shiny suits. The battle of wills between Marla and Jonas forms the ethical heart of the show.

In his program notes, first time director Nick Yates points to the collaborative nature of the cast, crew and committee of HMTC. And that is what is evident on stage. These are real people. They are a refreshing range of ages, sizes and heights. These are people with a real jobs who are rehearsing a couple of nights a week for 3 or 4 months before production week hits. Tradesman, office workers, teachers, doctors, students and high schoolers with commitment.

The auditorium of the Castle Hill RSL is huge and the stage is set back quite far but they only use the front of the stage which is combined with a thrust built out to bring the cast nearer. Yates makes very successful use of this to bring the revival close to the audience. The band of 10 are on either side of the thrust and there are giant screens for a live action feed of the gospel meetings. The settings are simple, the lighting traditional and the costumes, with one spectacular exception, home sourced.

It’s a musical… you don’t go home humming the costumes! It’s all about the songs and they are a treat. Ida Mae opens the show with her clear and strong soprano. Jonas sleazes in and the Angels join them for the rollicking “Rise Up”. From here, the handclapping, gospel inspired, country styled score is supported by the wonderful band.

The chorus work is delightful and there is a lot of vocal rehearsal evident on that stage. “I Can Read You” is duet of one-upmanship between Marla and Jonas where the blending of the two voices is evocative and sexy, it was a highlight for me.

One of the other high points for me, literally, was the last note of Ida Mae’s “Dancing in the Devil’s Shoes”. It’s a highly theatrical moment, designed as a show stopper and could be a disaster in lesser hands. In this production, it’s perfect. And it’s not just the artist. It’s also the audio mixing. Audio Engineer, Dave Fitzgerald built in a slight delay so that note reaches the ear a second longer than it should. It’s a subtle and unworldly adjunct to a fine voice. None of the band have amps facing the audience so Fitzgerald expertly controls the volumes and balances. We can clearly hear, not only the soloists but the wistful clarinet. I wish some of the operators of big city shows had his skill, I wouldn’t have to carry earplugs in my handbag!

With 27 performers onstage and lots more behind the scenes, it was very disappointing to note how many seats were left empty. Take a leap of faith and go and see this show. Not because it is an admirable enterprise with lots of hard work but because it is an enjoyable, well realized night at the theatre.

LEAP OF FAITH will be onstage at Castle Hill RSL: Friday 31st October 7.30pm, Saturday 1st November 1pm & 8pm, and Sunday 2nd November 5pm.

For more about Faith in the Hills, visit http://www.leapoffaithaustralia.com/