Watching the revised version of
Side Show (book and lyrics by Bill Russell, music by Henry Krieger)
at the Kennedy Center is a multilayered experience to fans of the original, particularly those who know the CD, and even the show, by heart. It's difficult to be totally immersed when part of you is doing a running compare-and-contrast. Hmm, I like the costumes a lot. Hmm, great set. Hmm, they're not Alice and Emily , but they're pretty good. Hmm, interesting to have the "freaks" actually depicted rather than left mostly to the imagination. Oh, wait, great lyric change. Hey, where did that song go? Hmm, that new song is a really good idea.
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Emily Padgett, Erin Davie
Photo: Cade Martin |
Little by little, however, the show entices you in, and little by little Erin Davie and Emily Padgett win you over on their own terms, and pretty soon, you realize, wow, this is
good! Wow, this is
very good! And by the time the final curtain goes down, you're completely involved. Bottom line: this revision is pretty darn wonderful.
Side Show is the story of Daisy (Padgett) and Violet (Davie) Hilton, conjoined twins who spent most of their lives on display, from side shows to vaudeville to the movies. They made a great deal of money but ended up working in a supermarket in Charlotte, NC, and died very close to penniless.
Side Show follows--and somewhat fictionalizes--their lives from childhood to the beginning of their movie career.
