State Fair at Souderton Area High School

Theater: Souderton Area High School
Show: State Fair
Seen: March 9, 2008
Reviewer: Jacquelyn Nestor
Submitted: March 9, 2008

"It Might As Well Have Been Spring" this past weekend at Souderton Area High
School's production of "State Fair." The production was a delightful
interpretation of the musical. "State Fair" had a short run on Broadway in
1996 after being adapted from the movie done by Rogers and Hammerstein in
1945. The movie was actually based on a novel of the same name by Phil
Strong.

The musical follows the story of the Frake family and their adventures at
the Iowa State Fair in 1951. The parents, Abel and Melissa go to the Fair
with the intentions of winning prizes for Abel's boar, and Melissa's pickles
and mincemeat. Their children Margy and Wayne come to the Fair with
slightly different intentions after having trouble with their romantic
relationships at home. Wayne finds the singer Emily Arden, while Margy
happens upon Pat Gilbert, the wild journalist. While at the State Fair the
Frake family must find out if the excitement and magic of the Fair will
last, or if it will leave after three days with the Fair to the next city.

Souderton did an excellent job of portraying the different groups of people
that are a part of the State Fair. The Fairtones all dressed somewhat
similarly and their dancing helped portray them as traveling Show Girls.
The Fair Workers also enhanced the overall show with their side commentary.
The sounds of Fair Workers enticing customers to their stands created a
fitting atmosphere for the production.

The leads did a wonderful job of presenting the many different sides of
love. Margy Frake and Pat Gilbert, Madi Hart and Logan Sutherland
respectively, shared a delightful chemistry throughout the show. Their
performance of "Isn't It Kinda Fun?" was light and surely relatable for many
audience members. The parents Abel and Melissa Frake, played by Michael
Nelson and Kelsie Hendricks, were especially endearing and believable. They
truly seemed like a loving couple with their performances in "When I Go Out
Walking With My Baby" and "Boys and Girls Like You and Me."

The production was accented at times by an elaborate set that fit the State
Fair setting. The Stage Crew added an interesting aspect to the show by
dressing as clowns while the moved different parts of the set. Overall,
Souderton Area High School's production of "State Fair" truly was "A Grand
Afternoon For Singing."

by Jacquelyn Nestor of Methacton High School