By Sam Pynes
Disney’s Tarzan: The Musical, Pinewood Performing Arts, Thursday July 11, 2024
Disney’s Tarzan is the stage adaptation of the animated Disney film released in 1999, itself an adaptation of the novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Though the film is a prime example of the unique era of animation that began to blend hand-drawn 2D animation with computer generated 3D animation, its lasting legacy is its musical score, a collaboration between Mark Mancina and and Phil Collins, for which the film won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “You’ll Be in My Heart.” Phil Collins wrote five songs for the movie, to which he added nine more for the stage adaptation. This is the first time Tarzan has been staged at Pinewood Bowl, and is Courtney Piccoli’s 19th production directing for the venerable Lincoln summer tradition.
Gorgeous unseasonably cool weather greets the crowd for opening, with a fun and detailed set (scenic art by Emma Laine Hoffbauer), and jungle sounds adding to the atmosphere. A member of the Pinewood Alumni or the local community sings the national anthem before each show; tonight it is Sean Flattery, remembered most recently for his entertaining performances in 2019’s Beauty and the Beast and 2021’s The Addams Family.
Marikita Saure (Kala) and Bret Olsen (Kerchak) lend a strong stage presence as the gorillas in the opening prologue sequence in which Tarzan’s parents (Sam Varney and Emmy Carnes) fall prey to the same Leopard (Lucy Jarrett) that claimed the life of the gorillas’ cub. Kala finds and defends the orphaned human infant, names him Tarzan, and sets the story into motion. It’s a hair-raising opener that transitions the viewers straight from “Two Worlds” into the first expression of “You’ll Be in My Heart,” which, as in the movie, becomes the thematic center of the story.
Saure and Olsen bridge the gap between familiar human emotions and the gorillas’ animal instincts in a completely natural way, along with the gorilla ensemble. The characterizations are not overdone, and I found myself buying into the world of the story immediately. It helped especially that the costumes (designed by Maralee Maldavs) are not literal gorilla suits, but are abstracted in a way that still shows the actor in a blend of human and gorilla, with wigs and a variety of hanging black tassels, offset by some character colors: red for Kala, blue for Terk, and eventually gray for the aging Kerchak. Commitment to movement also sells the gorilla ensemble, as they move about on hands and knees with acrobatic flips and spins, but just as often in the way that they walk, which invokes wary animal instinct.
Westyn Brown / Ty Lorenz (Young Tarzan / Young Terk) and Garytt Brown / Dom Anguiano (Teen Tarzan / Teen Terk) provide the context of Tarzan growing up as the literal odd man out with his friend Terk in the gorillas’ family grouping. Brown conveys Tarzan’s yearning for understanding and connection with his mellow youthful tenor in “I Need to Know.” Tarzan’s growing into potentially human characteristics leads to conflict and separation with Kerchak. Kala and Kerchak continue to play well off each other in the playful “Sure as Sun Turns to Moon.”
At about the 40 min mark we are introduced to the leads: Tarzan as a grown man, played by Will Hastreiter and Jane Porter (Claire Wilkinson) the naturalist who is visiting the jungle on a research mission with her father, Professor Porter (Aaron Robinson) and their trigger-happy guide Clayton (Elijah Shane). Robinson and Shane approach their pulpy characters with playful energy, which Robinson transitions into some touching sentimental moments in his scenes with Jane.
Tarzan literally swings onto the scene with great characterization and physicality. Throughout the show Hastreiter does a fantastic job of switching between the loquacious internal gorilla life, and the instinctive way that he presents to Jane. Terk grows up as well, now played by Joshua Carl.
Jane revels in all the new plant species she is discovering in “Waiting for This Moment.” The song plays out in an imaginative sequence in which members of the ensemble portray the jungle plants as Jane discovers them and they seem to discover her back. Tarzan and Jane meet to end Act One.
Act Two develops the themes of family and belonging as new romances and antagonisms develop. As in previous Pinewood outings, Wilkinson really makes her solos sparkle, and she gives her songs shape, energy, and direction. She really has a spectacular vocal quality, and is well-matched by Pinewood newcomer Hastreiter, who leans into the late-90’s style of “Strangers Like Me.” Tarzan’s solos, as well as the jazzy and playful “Trashin’ the Camp” remind why the boy bands of the late 90’s and early 00’s had such an earnest appeal.
While it was already impressive that the ape and ape-man characters were able to sing so beautifully and keep their breath while moving in physically challenging ways, opening night was also plagued by microphone issues which often required Tarzan to hold a mic in one hand and place it strategically in scenes while he lept and climbed, but this was done with such smooth unflappable confidence that it was never a distraction. It is a testament to the professionalism of these volunteer performers that they are able to adapt to challenges such as these and deliver a fantastically entertaining performance. I expect the issues will be ironed out before the other performances, but it gives a viewer confidence that even when the unexpected but inevitable challenges occur that the show will deliver in such a committed way.
The orchestra was tight and jazzy, with a percussive score to match the jungle vibes. Fernando Dominguez directed the orchestra, with vocal direction by Justin Eisenbeis.
Pinewood Bowl is a summer tradition that continues to prove why it is such a summer staple for the Lincoln Community. This fun show is a worthy addition to your summer activities!
If you go: Disney’s Tarzan runs July 11-21, Fri-Sun 8PM. Ticket information at https://www.pinewoodbowl.org (Adults $18, Children 5-12 $8, Children 0-4 Free). Tickets may also be purchased at Russ’s Markets. The show runs just under 2.5 hours with one intermission.
Sam Pynes is an actor, writer, and story enthusiast. Mostly harmless. Current Managing Editor of Appearing Locally.
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