Westfield Playhouse reprises its first show at theater, ‘The Civil War’
Main Street Productions opened Westfield Playhouse, 1836 Ind. 32 West, on April 12, 2002 giving the community its only theater stage. To relive history, MSP is hosting one of its most successful shows, which also happens to be the first at the playhouse – The Civil War.
“April 12 is the anniversary of the firing of Fort Sumter (the shots that started the American Civil War in 1861),” said producer Jan Jamison. “It’s like an anniversary for us, an anniversary for Fort Sumter, which I don’t think you celebrate but remember. I think that’s part of what this is – not to let those feelings and emotions die. We don’t ever want anything like this to happen on American soil again.”
“It leaves you with some sadness but thought provoking by living through and feeling what some of these folks felt,” Jamison said. “The music is so moving.”
Jamison said the songs are about the emotions of the people living during that time.
“The first song is about the Union and Confederate soldiers gung ho, we’re going to win this battle in a couple of months,” she said. “Then you start seeing wives left at home, the slaves asking ‘What is going to happen to us?’ because if we are free what can we do and them being torn apart. There are stories about nurses taking care of young men that they’ll never know their name, never see them again and they die. Being in that moment is very heart wrenching.”
The Civil War is not a traditional music with individual, self-contained vignettes instead of large cast numbers.
“The show is written more like a theater event. It’s not a normal musical and doesn’t have a lot of dialogue like most musicals have. It’s more like a concert,” Jamison said.
“In a way it’s a little easier than shows where you have dialogue, blocking and songs,” actress Betsy Bullis said.
Of the 20 cast members, Bullis and four others were involved in the original production and have reprised their roles. Bullis plays Lincoln’s secretary and sings “A Candle in the Window.”
“It’s about how I admire Lincoln, how I look to him for hope for the war and the country and I worry about him and how much pressure he is under. How difficult and stressful it is for him,” she said. “I had a great experience the first two times I was in it. I really liked the songs and wanted to sing it again.”
This time around is extra special for Brian Koning, who plays a Union soldier, as his 12-year-old son Kyler joins him on stage.
“My son is in the show this time and he wasn’t even born last time,” Brian said. “We’re both playing guitar and singing and he is playing harmonica … It’s a great feeling. He’s done a couple of shows locally but this is his first musical.”
Koning said the music is the star of the show.
“I can’t believe this show didn’t get more notoriety on a national stage because the music is great,” he said. “Some of the stuff is almost stuff that could be on country radio today. It’s these nice melodies, some great harmonies and good ’ol knee-slapping gospel.”
Jim Washington sings “River Jordan,” the first act conclusion and showstopper.
“When we do it, it rocks them,” he said. “I could sing that thing all night and twice on Sundays.”
Washington also reprises his role as a slave.
“I told friends that sometimes the title throws people off. I try to have them visualize a musical that’s showing what is going on from a different perspective,” he said. “Some people in the younger crowd have reservations about playing a slave. I try to explain that this happened. You don’t have to feel belittled to play the role of a slave nowadays.”
This year’s show is directed by Niles Clark, who performed in the original production and is a Gen. George Pickett reenactor.
“I like telling a story by song. I don’t like talking my lines, I like singing my lines,” he said. “When we first did it, it was an interesting show. None of us had heard it before and the music really grabbed everyone. When you sang a lot of the songs it came from the heart and soul. It delivered a strong message.”
The cast
Union Army: Brian Koning, Hank Kratky, Andrew Morales and Grady Whitson; slaves: Onis Dean and Jim Washington; youth: Kyler Koning and Mea Puckett; musicians: Kyle Thomas, piano, and Andrew Morales, guitar; Confederate Army: Vince Acceturo, Niles Clark, Thom Johnson and Marc Walter; and ladies: Perry Acceturo, Betsy Bullis, Adriane Clark, Lisa Clark, MaryAnne Matthews, Melissa Puckett, Beth Ray-Scott and Rachael Whitlock.
The Civil War by Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy ● Westfield Playhouse, 1836 W. Ind. 32 West ● April 10-12 and 17-19 ● 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday ● $15 for adults and $13 for seniors and students ● 896-2707 ● www.westfieldplayhouse.org
