CENTERVILLE — The stage version of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” opens at the CenterPoint Legacy Theatre Monday, July 25, and runs through Aug. 20.
This simple story, whether on film or stage, has been entertaining audiences for close to 60 years. The film script, written by Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich and Dorothy Kingsley, was based on the short story “The Sobbin’ Women” by Stephen Vincent Benet, who got the idea from “The Rape of the Sabine Women,” a Roman legend.
Adam Pontifee goes looking for a bride. He rides into town, meets Millie, the cook at a restaurant, and marries her within a day. Millie arrives at the remote Pontifee home to discover Adam has six unmarried younger brothers who aren’t very “civilized.”
Millie’s feminine influence makes the brothers decide they also want to marry. The brothers find sweethearts at a barn raising, but don’t know how to convince the girls to marry them. Adam tells his brothers the story of the “Rape of the Sabine Women,” which inspires the brothers to kidnap their potential brides.
The brothers set off a snow slide to block the angry fathers and beaus who pursue the kidnapped women. When the potential brides arrive, Millie takes things in hand. She orders the men to sleep in the barn and have no contact with the girls. An angry Adam takes off for his hunting cabin. When spring comes, all is resolved on the side of true love.
Interestingly enough, the stage play was adapted from the film version of the story, which opened in 1954. Usually a film emerges after a play has been successful.
“A struggle we’ve had is that the stage show came after the movie,” said the show’s director, Alane Schultz. “The challenge comes with changing locations — quite a lot of set has to be moved and changed.”
“Michell Castell, the stage manager, is phenomenal,” Schultz said. “She has the gift to feel the rhythm and timing of how things need to move on stage, and makes it happen.”
The movie version "was adapted to the stage in the 1980s,” Schultz said. “All the original songs are still there but quite a few songs were added to help the story along.”
Which leads to another challenge: 28 men to successfully stage the double-cast show. Not an easy order to fill.
“Our directors deal with people who have a lot of different levels of ability,” said CenterPoint publicist Susan Bellomy. “It amazes me the amount of talent that exists here in Utah.”
“I am beyond pleased with the talent that came out of the woodwork,” Schulz said. “They can all sing, dance and act — and they can do it all well.”
In addition, Schultz said the leads for the show are experienced actors. “We’ve been blessed with a really good cast,” Schulz said.
Ricky Parkinson and Ashley Gardner-Carlson play Adam and Millie on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday leads are Danny Inkley and Julie Nelson Blatter.
When audiences seem to love the story, it's a challenge for the director to bring a fresh look to an old friend.
“Because we’ve seen this show a million times, I ask, ‘Why are we doing this show again?’” Schultz said. “I think with this production, we’ve found a hint of heart that balances the humor.”
Ticket information is available on the company's website, centerpointtheatre.org, or by calling 801-298-1302.
Rosemarie Howard lives in a 100-year-old house on Main Street in Springville, Utah. She enjoys creating multimedia content. Visit her website: dramaticdimensions.com.