|
Share the article on
this page with a friend.
Click
here.
|
|
| 
“White Star” Shines as New
LDS Musical
By Laurie Williams Sowby
It began with "Saturday’s Warrior" more than three
decades ago. Now Doug Stewart, the same man who started the LDS
musical genre with his popular story (which follows a family from
pre-existence through the trials of earthly life) has teamed up
with Janice Kapp Perry to write "The White Star."
The musical takes its title from a symbol for Jesus Christ, who
gives light to the world and to individual lives as well. The
90-minute production, directed by George Nelson, is fast-paced,
entertaining, and chock full of good tunes sung by able performers.
It’s tighter and shorter than "Saturday’s Warrior"
but still carries a message of love and caring on opposite sides
of the veil.
This time, the LDS family is not quite so perfect. Although there
is a teenaged seminary dropout, Matt, who is a touch rebellious
(played convincingly by Jared Young), he is just following the
wishes of his returned-missionary-turned-inactive father (Alan
Humpherys) — who would much rather see him accept a college
tennis scholarship than serve a mission. The father’s position
naturally causes friction with other, more faithful members of
the family, including his wife (Margo Watson), daughter (Anna
Kaelin) and younger son (David Warr).
The engaging Josh Tenney nearly steals the show as Luke, the young,
ebullient, scripture-quoting convert who lives next door and doesn’t
understand his neighbors’ lack of enthusiasm for anything
religious. He provides many comic moments in a story with serious
overtones.
A tormented young man seeks help from beyond the veil in the musical
production “White Star.”
As it was in "Saturday’s
Warrior," it is the teenaged son who brings things to a head
— after he sees in his dreams ancestors who prod him toward
a testimony and urge him to make sure his father isn’t left
out of the family chain. Matt and his entire family gain strength
from reading the experiences of their ancestors in a journal they
find.
Those scenes featuring the ancestors, as well as one in Jerusalem
at the time of the Crucifixion are memorable. Audiences can also
relate to the tension caused by other plot events and relationships
among the characters.
The well-chosen cast features outstanding singing voices. Kudos
go to A.J. Longhurst, Chuck Gilmore, Matt Dobson, David Weekes,
Shoni Winkel, Laurel Warr, Katie Tenney, Leslie Nelson and Lucas
Charon, as well as the "family" and "Luke."
The music varies from high-energy production numbers to tender
solos and duets with fluid melodies. Although most fit nicely
with the scenes, the segue from a tender scene toward the end
into a rollicking gospel-rock-style number is jarringly out of
character with the preceding scene. Still, it was the one the
BYU Education Week audience applauded the most.
Other LDS audiences of all ages will likely enjoy "White
Star" just as much.
"White Star" premiered during BYU Education Week and
is set to travel in the western states after performances Sept.
7, 8, 14 and 15 at Timpview High School in Provo, Utah. Tickets
and performance information are available online at www.whitestarmusical.com.
(One note to everyone: Please take that S off the end of Young
Women!)
|
|
About
the Author: |
Laurie Williams Sowby has been
writing since grade school, and getting paid for it the past
30 years, with articles in LDS Church magazines, Exponent II,
This People, Good Housekeeping , and Redbook as well as the
Deseret News, Daily Herald and Utah County Journal . She is
a graduate of BYU, taught writing at Utah Valley State College
for 12 years, and has traveled to all 50 states and 36 countries
(so far). She and her husband, Steve, recently returned
from serving as fulltime missionaries in the Chile Santiago
West Mission. They live in American Fork, Utah. Their youngest
son, Rob, is currently serving in the Germany Berlin Mission.
The older four children are married and have provided 14 grandchildren
so far. |
| Related
Resources: |
| Arts
and Entertainment Archive
Click
here to learn more and to buy
Witness of the Light is an
epic photographic journey into the life of Joseph Smith from
Sharon to Carthage, bringing you many stories and details you've
never heard before. In this feature-length film, Joseph's
life is put in a powerful new visual context, details come alive,
and the events leap off the page in our minds with a new and
poignant reality. Loved by more than 100,000 members
in presentations across the Church, Witness is an intimate
portrait of Joseph's life and a journey of the heart.
Click on the DVD icon above to learn more and to add it to your
home. The cost? An historic $18.30. |
| What
do you think? |
| |
Format
for Print
Click Here |
|
Share
the article on this page with a friend.
Click
here. |
|
|
