VERO BEACH — Opening weekend of “Rapunzel and Me” got off to a rousing start with a packed house last Friday night, mostly of proud parents, grandparents and siblings anxious to see the result of all those long nights of rehearsals.
Cast members perfected their acting, singing and dancing all week until 10 p.m. each night and the hard work definitely showed.
With virtually no hesitation, they had their lines, lyrics and steps down pat.
Rapunzel and Prince Archibald delivered sincere, sweet and romantic performances that were true to their youthful exuberance, but the two young actors who really stole the show were St. Edward’s Upper School students Jacqs Carroll in the role of the determined and conniving Lady Bertha and Jamari Williams as the effervescent and stylish Page Phillip.
Both students led jazzy production numbers that ranked among the highlights of the show.
The musical uses many mobile set elements and projected backdrops that leave plenty of space for the frequent dance numbers.
The most innovative elements of the set were the two rotating blue “towers” used to represent Rapunzel’s treetop home.
When the full cast gathered on stage for the closing number and the last note was belted out, Dick Stark applauded heartily, smiled from ear to ear and said, “Wow, what a show!”
Stark, long-time John’s Island resident and major benefactor of Riverside Theatre — the Stark Main Stage is named for him and his late wife Barbara — said he was amazed at the talent and the professionalism of the young people and commented that the hometown productions at Riverside Children’s Theatre sometimes get overlooked and locals don’t realize what quality entertainment is available.
“I was blown away by it, it’s amazing how much work they put into it, they did all the music and the lyrics,” Stark said. “This doesn’t get the attention it deserves over here.”
