Theatre Review: Unveiled Takes a Rodgers and Hammerstein Approach to the Bible

The cast of Unveiled performing “Beauty Care” (photos by Steve Rogers Photography)

There are genre-bending productions that push theatrical boundaries, and then there are cozy, classic shows – ones that evoke the golden era of musicals with high kicks and high drama. Presented by SoundBeacon Entertainment, Unveiled is a new musical from local writing team Glenna Bowman, Matthew Shead, and Ellie Jarrett Shattles. Despite its fresh appearance on the scene, it feels intensely old-school. And by “old,” I mean biblical. That’s right; this production presents the tale of Esther, delivered as if Rodgers and Hammerstein briefly visited the Middle East.

Susannah Crowell plays the plucky, adventurous heroine. She embodies the dream of every bookish girl with a love for adventure, the oddball who stands out with her independence and wisdom. Esther’s dreams of travel change as she's consigned into a harem for King Xerxes of Persia (Jon Reneé). Even as she becomes queen, she must hide her Jewish identity, attempting to advocate for the preservation of her people despite the constant threat of death that surrounds her if the king is slightly displeased. Bowman, Shead, and Shattles throw in a cavalcade of other characters to round out the drama. Rather than risk King Xerxes losing all relatability with cruel mandates, they’ve crafted a villainous trio in the form of unctuous adviser Haman (Noah Steele, having the ultimate time of his life swanning about malevolently) and his witchy wife Zeresh (Sarah Manna) and daughter Amira (Megan Hudson). If we’re continuing the Joseph references, think of them as Potiphar’s wife combined with Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove. Esther also gets support from her best friend Suri (Ana Pecina), which leads to a quick PSA: iPhone owners, please turn those phones off, or else this name choice will cause electronic distractions during the show.

The Bible isn’t that strange of a musical muse – it’s been there through Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar and, most applicable to Unveiled, the bubbly Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Mark A. Lit directs the production like a song-forward showcase, big enough to play to the rafters. There are energetic dance numbers aplenty with soloists earnestly belting directly to the audience. And, of course, plenty of characters sing a genre Rolodex of songs, from “Puppet in My Hand,” a snazzy villain vaudeville with sinister sneers galore, to “Beauty Care,” a frothy flapper-esque makeover montage that occurs as the harem settles in. Plus, no show is complete without rousing anthemic earworms like “The Moment Is Now,” ramping up emotion toward the story’s brave climax.

Susannah Crowell as Esther and Jon Reneé as King Xerxes

It is electrifying when the ensemble’s voices blend together, but the cast also spotlights reliable soloists. As Esther’s cousin Mordecai, Steve Williams’ comforting rumble grounds the production, adding weight to contrast the more cartoonish moments. But those exaggerated characters can be effective, like Tommy Martinez’s dazzling portrayal of Hegai, the chief eunuch in charge of the harem. Martinez directly channels the essence of Nathan Lane, both through showmanship during comic numbers and in vocal purity during slower songs. These are all enhanced by the live musicians, led by composer Shattles on the keys. She’s joined by Andrew Dobos on percussion, Thomas Almendra’s oboe, and gorgeous tones from Hector Moreno on cello. They are a small but mighty addition.

It might be best to approach Unveiled like a fable. These tropes are simple, the message is clear, and there’s not much subtlety in the presentation. But just because the theme isn’t complex doesn’t mean it’s without merit. What’s the harm in spending an evening pondering the importance of unity over division? Unveiled presents that stripped-down, essential truth with aplomb.

Unveiled: A Musical

Austin Scottish Rite Theater

Through April 6