On Oct. 31, John Brown University’s theatre department put on Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s brilliant story, Bright Star.
This show explores themes of redemption and ambition through interlaced plotlines, as successful editor, Alice Murphy’s life mysteriously connects to an ambitious young soldier named Billy Cane. In this two-act musical, blanketed with lively bluegrass numbers, viewers get to watch the memories of Alice’s life unfold. Exploring youthful love and parental pressures of gender roles and class, Bright Star succeeds in evoking a diverse spread of emotions.
Actor Camden Mathis plays the menacing role of Mayor Josiah Dobbs. He says, “It all has to do with redemption. I think Bright Star is about how, even if you make mistakes and things go wrong, good, beautiful things can still come out of that situation.” When asked what the most difficult part of the show was, he said, “It’s difficult getting into the right mindset to play the bad guy, and letting that affect the way I walk, stand and talk. Becoming that character again every night is definitely a challenge.”
The large, elevated set piece housing the band was impressive on its own, but the music that flowed from it was even more remarkable. Its melodies broke emotional walls with ease and serenaded the blackout set transition masterfully. The costumes were thoughtful and anchored the setting in the 1920s and 1940s. There was a breathtaking costume transition during one of Alice Murphy’s songs where her outfit changed as she went from remembering to transforming into her past self.
“It was incredible, everything happened so fast that it kept you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what would happen next. The cast was so good that you really felt like they were suffering through everything that happened to them. Honestly, one of the best musicals I've seen at JBU,” said Allison Barría, junior student at JBU and musicals lover.
Bright Star has scenes of ambition, love, scandal and violence that culminate in the restoration of a family. The most surprising thing about its narrative is its basis in truth. On Howard Stern, Steve Martin said, “It was a news item of a baby that had been thrown from a train in the suitcase and lived, but there was no other information about the story — about what happened, who the baby was, anything. We felt like it was a good story for a musical … and then Edie and I wrote a song for it.”
Many wonder how a story with such intense scenes was able to be depicted here at JBU. The show grasps biblical themes tightly and reflects a Moses-like motif of providence and redemption. Despite scenes that leave the audience wondering how this may even have a good ending, it all culminates into a heartfelt conclusion that brought tears to many eyes. Students and family went into this show to see loved ones and to hear live performances, yet many left considering the unsettling conflicts and the deep themes that make the plot profound.
Photo Courtesy of Stefany Mendoza
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