Review posted on 5/28/10 by Mike:

Folks, You don’t need to go to Broadway. I seldom recommend entertainment online, as people’s tastes vary. Today is an exception. The MTC production of Woody Guthrie’s American Song, his life performed through his music is Not To Be Missed. Set in a small theater, this production features highly professional actor musicians telling his life story through his songs and knitted together by brilliant dialogue. The Company consists of 5 main characters, three men and two women who actually exchange roles throughout, very capable musicianship (guitars, mandolins, bass) by those actors as well as their clear, extremely well arranged vocals. They are backed up by a three piece band onstage-playing guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, harmonica. Every song was arranged differently, with the instruments actually passed around to the performer/actors.

The story travels around the US with Woody on his rambles from the Oklahoma dust bowl to California crop pickers to New York to LA. Railcars, shantytowns, New York Bar scenes are beautifully depicted in the sets as his songs are played. Woody wrote his music as if the people of the thirties and forties were describing their daily lives. There wasn’t a person in the audience who wasn’t smiling throughout the production, and most, like myself, couldn’t stop tapping their feet. We were even encouraged to sing along on his standards like This Land is Your Land. I will see it again, probably with my grandchildren.

Rarely has one an opportunity to witness the simple/complex artistry of such a professionally produced musical play in your local theater at a very reasonable price. It plays until June 20th.