The Wizard (John Hickok), the Fagan-like villain of the piece, takes him in, helps him choose a new name, August Rush, and then hijacks his symphony. On the way, he listens to the sounds of the city and writes a symphony. Meanwhile Evan repeatedly runs away from his foster homes so he can look for his parents. It wasn’t until after her father died that she learned he’d forged her signature and put the baby up for adoption. When Lyla turned up pregnant, she had the baby, but her Father (John Hickok), who seemed to see her as his meal ticket, told her the baby had died. Lewis and Lyla meet, have a one-night stand, and then both go back on tour. Lyla (Sydney Shepherd), his mother, is a cellist Lewis (George Abud), his father, is a rock musician. Unfortunately, Evan’s parents don’t know he exists. This is the story of an 11-year-old orphan, Evan Tyler (Jack McCarthy), who believes that he’ll find his missing parents through music. The ensemble, on the other hand, wore black jackets over winter white slacks/skirts.
I think the last straw was seeing one actor playing two villains – or were they? I did figure out that I could pick out the important characters by their clothing, which was black with a touch of red. I think most of the people in the audience were just as bewildered as I was. I didn’t have any idea who was who, or what they were doing/looking for, and I was not alone in that. The story, on the other hand, was confusing. The music was an interesting blend, mostly classical, occasionally contemporary with a pinch of rock and roll. Everyone in the production including the principal actors played a musical instrument. I mentioned that the music was gorgeous, and it really was. I’ve talked with a couple of friends who have seen both the film and this production, and they say a lot of the movie’s content just wasn’t there. There he falls in with the Wizard (John Hickok), a sinister maestro who re-christens him August Rush and entices him into the "The Collective," an orchestra comprised of regular folks turned street musicians who gave up everything for their passion.Apparently there was a 2007 movie, “August Rush”, but I’d never even heard of it, much less seen it. Raised in foster care, Evan runs away at the age of 11 to New York City, where he believes music will magically lead him to his birthparents. And they don't know he exists, since Lyla - who wanted to keep her baby - believes he died at birth. The product of a one-night stand between classical cellist Lyla (Sydney Shepherd) and rock guitarist/mandolinist Lewis (George Abud), Evan never knew his parents. "I believe in music like some people believe in fairy tales," says August Rush, played on opening night by the winsome Jack McCarthy, who shares the role with Huxley Westemeier.
The titular character confirms that much during the opening moments. It's stylish but aloof, with a distinct chill that further underscores the lack of genuine emotional resonance in what is an urban fairy tale.Ĭourtesy of Liz LaurenGeorge Abud, left, and Sydney Shepherd play musicians whose brief tryst produces the titular music prodigy in "August Rush: The Musical," running through June 2 at Paramount Theatre in Aurora. The production has a spare, sophisticated look due in part to Scott Pask's concert hall set dominated by an ebony grand piano and highlighted by a black, white and red palette that includes Paul Toben's lighting and Ann Hold-Ward's costumes. Doyle's ambiguous staging - which has actor-instrumentalists walking about, seemingly without purpose - fails to clarify the overstuffed narrative. In a musical that clearly aspires to an emotional connection, that's a problem.Īnd it's not the only one. Unfortunately, the concept misses the mark in "August Rush," partly because while the production boasts able instrumentalists, not all of them possess the vocal heft and acting chops audiences expect from a Paramount production.
The premise suits Doyle's singular style - evident here as in previous acclaimed revivals of "Sweeney Todd" and "Company" - which involves casting multi-hyphenates (singer/actor/instrumentalists) who serve as their own orchestra. Based on the 2007 film starring Freddie Highmore as an 11-year-old musical prodigy searching for his birthparents, "August Rush" is about artistic creation and the powerful connections people forge through music.
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