Named for the small-town cave-explorer who was fatally trapped in the cavern he wanted to excavate and publicize and one of the first true stories ever to be over-sensationalized with the advent of the radio, STAGEright’s Floyd Collins is a heart-aching American tale with a unique score. Throughout the play Floyd’s plight remains present in our minds – he never leaves his place, wedged in the rocks during scene changes, except during his most desperate moments when he is transported by his dreams.
The painful irony is the number of people that do show up, drawn by the headlines of hundreds of newspapers circulating the country, which Floyd never sees nor fully comprehends. Both he and the cavernous beauty he was so determined to reveal are known of but unreachable. The media swarm tests his closest companions and reveals an unlikely friend in journalist Skeets (Ben Wynant) while sister, Nellie Collins brings sweetness, classical innocence and enduring loyalty to the story.
The music, which was directed by Mike Rabe, had some interesting blue-grass characteristics that featured dialectical yips, yodels and chorally echoes that resonated off the set (cave) walls. I would not call the music catchy but it was beautifully done. Brian Lange (Floyd Collins) sang with energy and strength through some of the most complicated motifs in the entire production and though there were some rough moments, his carriage throughout was moving. Some of the cast sang with simple earthy realness that was just really nice to behold, like Taylor Richmond (Jewell Estes), Vincent Orduña (Ed Bishop) and notably Chelsea LeValley (Nellie Collins). There was also a brilliant number performed by the exploitive reporter crew trio that was a pleasantly entertaining surprise.
Overall, I enjoyed Floyd Collins and would recommend it to anyone who likes musical theatre. I’d say this one’s a little different and quite memorable.
Catch STAGEright’s “Floyd Collins” directed by Lindsey Larson at Richard Hugo House through November 23rd. For more information and tickets visit www.seattlestageright.org.