New musical '1848' to premiere on Holland's Park Theatre stage
"1848: Love & Revolution," a full-length new musical, will open for three performances at the Park Theatre on May 29.
HOLLAND — A new musical is about to take the stage in Holland.
"1848: Love & Revolution," a full-length new musical, will open for three performances at the Park Theatre on May 29.
Written by local playwright Al Ver Schure, with music composed by Bud Ferguson, the storyline of the show centers on yet another public uprising in Paris, but with a twist in that the two lead roles portray historical characters Frederic Chopin, the famous composer, and his romantic partner, the almost equally famous French novelist, who used the male pen name George Sand.
In “1848,” Sand, whose actual name was Armandine Aurore Lucille Dupin Dudevant, is a flamboyant socialite who prefers a top hat, men’s trousers and a cigar to the accepted feminine appearance of the time. Her lifestyle and involvement in the Left’s Reformist Movement pits her and her comrades against the current monarchy, the nobility and the army. It also creates problems in the home.
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The plot moves through the tensions that pervade the Parisian society, but more importantly, through the tensions that are unraveling the Sand-Chopin relationship.
Sand’s prominence in the movement and her actions as an occasional spy, are more than unsettling to Chopin, who wants only to be a composer and a musician. He is as withdrawn as she is the center of the soiree. By the time the middle of act two arrives, Chopin is deteriorating mentally as well as physically as revolution is about to happen.
A major theme in this musical is that the world has a way of thwarting our highest aspirations, but the human spirit continues to try to overcome.
"1848" is written in two acts, with the score a mix of original Chopin compositions, and original show tunes and rock music, for a total of 21 songs. The cast includes 11 actors/singers, with five pit musicians. Music direction is provided by Laurie Dekker, with choreography by Isabelle Park.
Ver Schure, who also is the score’s lyricist, and Ferguson premiered their Oirst musical "Carney Dreams" at the Red Barn Theatre in Saugatuck in 2012.
Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 29, and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30.
Tickets for "1848: Love & Revolution" are available at the Park Theatre’s website and Facebook page, as well as at the door.
— Submitted by Al Ver Schure. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
