Tarzan: The Stage Musical, based on the 1999 Disney film, is a tale of the collision of two worlds, told in two acts.
Somewhere on the west coast of Africa lives a large troop of gorillas, led by Kerchak (Scotty Shaffer), who takes his responsibilities to his family very seriously. His mate, Kala (Harmony Livingston), loses her baby to a leopard attack. When she comes across a human baby, left an orphan after that same leopard kills its parents who had been the sole survivors of a shipwreck, Kala names the tiny man-child Tarzan and insists on raising it as her own, over the objections of Kerchak.
Young Tarzan (Tyler Fruhwirth), the hairless ape, struggles to fit in with his family, as Kerchak watches, and waits, fearful for signs of Tarzan’s human nature to manifest.
Years later, after Tarzan (Barret Harper) has grown to manhood, the human world arrives again. We learn for the first time “when” we are in the human world – the early 1900s. Jane Porter (Katie Jackson), an enthusiastic botanist – unusual for a woman in this time – has accompanied her father (Kent Sugg) on a scientific expedition to find and study gorillas in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, their guide, the well-armed Clayton (David Wygant), has other ideas regarding the gorillas.
Barrett Harper as Tarzan, flanked by his gorilla family. Photo courtesy RDG Photography
The Candlelight stage has been transformed into an atmospheric jungle for this production, with the 8-person orchestra right on stage but hidden behind a gigantic, all -encompassing tree.
The family of gorillas are played by a talented ensemble cast. Their costumes only evoke the idea of gorilla-ness, yet their body movements and exuberant playfulness, skittering across the jungle floor and up amongst the trees makes it easy to believe in them.
Scotty Shaffer plays Kerchak perfectly – the old silverback, gruff and protective – even of the man-child he fears will destroy the family. Harmony Livingston as Kala evokes the protective mother perfectly as well.
Jane (Katie Jackson) faces the ape man (Barret Harper) with true British aplomb. Photo courtesy RDG Photography
Katie Jackson shines, almost literally, as Jane Porter, whose exuberant love of life as she explores the beautiful – and dangerous – flora and fauna of the jungle. Kent Sugg’s Porter perfectly balances the “absent-minded professor” with the compassionate and wise father. David Wygant’s is his usual excellent self as the villainous Clayton.
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Scotty Shaffer as the silverback gorilla Kerchak, who bears the responsibility of keeping his family safe. Photo courtesy RDG Photography
The show of course belongs to Fruhwirth as young Tarzan and Barret Harper as Tarzan. Growing up a gorilla, albeit one who knows he is different from the rest of his family, Fruhwirth must evoke his anguish as he is rejected by Kerchak for reasons he doesn’t understand. Harper’s adult Tarzan, meeting humans for the first time and in particular a female human, must choose if he is to remain a gorilla…or choose to don the clothing of a human and enter the human world.
Songs, with music and lyrics by Phil Collins, include “Two Worlds,” “You’ll Be in My Heart,” and “For the First Time.”
The Candlelight’s Tarzan is a mesmerizing journey into the heart of two worlds – both equally dangerous in their own ways.
The Food
For the dinner portion of the evening, the offerings were Caribbean porkchop, jerk chicken, tortilla crusted tilapia, tropical stuffed pepper, and mango-poppy seed salad. The premium entrees were prime rib, Caribbean shrimp, or jungle jerk ribs.
Cilantro lime glazed jerk chicken, with Caribbean coleslaw and mashed yams. For dessert – SInful Seven – a dark and white cholocalte mousse
Barbeduce dry-rubbed pork chop topped iwth jalapeno mango salsa, served with coconut rice and mixed vegetables. (Coleslaw substituted for rice on this occasion) with key lime pie for dessert.
Tarza, the Stage Musical will delight audiences at the Candlelight until August 25, 2019.
Season 12 of the Candlelight will begin on September 5 with The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
