Review: Theatre South Playhouse’s RIDE THE CYCLONE is a Scream!
Ride the Cyclone
Theater: Theatre South Playhouse
Venue: Theatre South Playhouse
Date: March 3rd 2024
Critic: Jaimz Dillman
ORLANDO, FL Mix a wild experience for musical theater fans and theme park enthusiasts alike, and you'll have a chance to Ride the Cyclone through March 16th at Theater South Playhouse- music, lyrics and book by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell.
This macabre telling of a Canadian School Choir, who meets their untimely demise on carnival ride during a school trip, has quickly become a cult hit since premiering in Canada, stopping in Chicago, and finding a place off Broadway.
Thanks to social media, the telling of the 7(ish) victim’s stories has found a huge fan base for such a new and smaller work. The second part to Richmond's "Uranium Teen Scream Trilogy," a collection of three separate works, one still to be produced, in the fictional setting of Uranium City.
The Central Florida premier features 2 casts- Sugarcloud and Jawbreaker- directed by Hillary Brook, choreography by Christopher Payen, and musical direction by Alex LaPlante.
Already extended for 3 additional performances, the smaller-cast show already has returning attendees waiting by the stage door for pictures with the cast.
And I can see why. We took in the Sunday matinee this past weekend and were thoroughly impressed with, not only the performances, but also the stage and set design, blocking and choreography, and use of space in the smaller black box size theater.
Each student has to plead their case to The Amazing Karnak (Pat Clark in a fab turn as the mystical animatronic) for reasons they should be rewarded with surviving the crash. Rules for the contest are doled out by Karnak in ironic fashion and the kids soon learn it won’t be an easy prize to win.
Playing lead Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg, Addison Ward gives us the perfectionist from high school everyone loves to hate. She doesn’t do herself any favors by calling all of her classmates losers with the statement that the world needs more of her. But Ward's clear voice, and manic need to be liked by everyone else, nails her role.
We find out there’s more to each teen in their afterlife limbo than they let on at school.
Ricky Potts (Josh Otero) isn’t really the speech-stricken mute they all thought they knew.
There’s more to Noel Gruber (Jordan Casteel) than meets the eye.
Mischa Bachinski (Noah Baez) reveals a deep passion within his Ukrainian rage.
And a surprising confession comes late in act 2 from eager-to-please Constance Blackwood (Marlo Coffin).
Natalie Hightower is eye-catching as mysterious Jane Doe with doll-like body language carried through numbers and scenes in the most eerie way. And her solo adds to this haunting quality making everyone want to know just who is this girl?
The lessons learned by each kid vying for a chance to finish out their short lives come to a head as the decision must be made to the one most deserving. But who leaves with the prize? Well, the audience really. A stellar performance from a strong ensemble easily made this show sell-out dates early on its run. Tickets are already scarce for a few upcoming performances so don't wait to get yours.
This ride is a scream.
Grab you ticket to ride at the following link.
