Sunday, September 22, 2024

Review Highlights: SLEEPY HOLLOW - East Valley Children's Theatre

Westley Armbrust, Madeline Armistead, and Cast
Photo by Emily Penrod

highlights from local critics reviews - (click link at bottom of each review to read complete review)

Click here for more information on this production that runs through September 29

"Sleepy Hollow is a family-friendly theatrical adaptation of Washington Irving's famous short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," blending haunting themes with comedy and an upbeat musical score. The show reimagines the eerie tale of Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher in the haunted town of Sleepy Hollow who finds himself entangled in both local folklore and romantic rivalry, with a heavy dose of humor. East Valley Children's Theatre's production features good leads, sharp direction, and vibrant creative elements, including some impressive make-up designs that evoke Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)....Morris' book hits all of the major plot points in Irving's story and, while Francoeur's tunes may not be entirely memorable, they do feature several fun numbers as well as a few that are more on the spooky side. Aaron Blanco's direction plays up the comedy in the script and never truly lets the eerie moments get too frightening, which works well for a show aimed at a family audience. ...The cast all create fun characters and deliver strong performances, bringing a mixture of humor, fear, and romance to their roles. Westley Armbrust portrays Ichabod with a blend of charm and vulnerability, making him a sympathetic figure even if we know he's overly ambitious with courting Katrina for her land. Armbrust has good comic chops and great facial expressions that get big laughs as this foppish fellow. As Katrina, Madeline Armistead is appropriately headstrong, independent and fearless, making the character more deep than just the traditional love interest of rivals Ichabod and Bones."  - Gil Benbrook, TalkinBroadway.com (click here to read the complete review)

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