The ambitious U.S. premiere of The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale at Chicago Shakes transforms the Yard into a Middle Earth full of wondrous surprises. The most memorable first-act scene, in which Gandalf the wizard (an appropriately sonorous Tom Amandes) meets what appears to be a very bad end, employs billowing fabric with dramatic projections, lighting and sound to create a truly thrilling stage picture.
Frodo Baggins (a companionable Spencer Davis Milford), the questing Hobbit out to rescue Middle Earth from grave peril by destroying a ring that can wreak unimaginable havoc on the land of Hobbits, elves, dwarves and orcs, later meets Gollum (an athletically and aesthetically creepy Tony Bozzuto), who brings yet more harrowing moments to life.
For all the satisfying highlights, however, this is an uneven, overlong show that will appeal most to diehard LOTR fans and nerdlings devoted to D&D campaigns and trips to the Bristol Renaissance Faire. The rest of us could stand to see 20-30 minutes chopped from the three-hour runtime (including one or two Act Two numbers that delay the inevitable showdown in Mordor), a less-confusing climax (what exactly happens to Gollum and the ring, anyway?) and a more memorable suite of songs.
Given the complexity of the story, it may be too much to ask for significant trims to the exposition, but some cuts there would also be welcome. For instance, when Gandalf flees the clutches of former ally Saruman (a mildly menacing Jeff Parker), the great wizard describes it in a throwaway line instead of effecting a daring escape onstage where we could actually see it happen.
Yet, that set is spectacular. The musicians, including drummers keeping the beat at separate kits across the stage from each other, are excellent. The performers are uniformly strong, especially Bozzuto, Milford, Will James Jr. (the romantic hero Strider), and Alina Jenine Taber and Lauren Zakrin (the golden-voiced Arwen and Galadriel, respectively).
There’s a lot to like here if you’re up for an epic quest full of magic, monsters and songs of folkish fellowship.
The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale runs through September 1 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
For a full roundup of reviews of this show, visit Theatre in Chicago.
Photo by Liz Lauren
