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REVIEWS
The Seattle Times | Misha Berson
- “Taproot’s well-cast, engaging chamber musical is more than a celebration of Midwestern acreage and hardy farm folk; it contextualizes its entertaining romance within the xenophobia that can erupt in small communities toward a newcomer who is, as one of the songs proclaims, ‘not one of us.’”
- “The well-cast, engaging chamber musical features an appealing romance, down-home characters and some vigorous Minnesota wheat threshing.”
- “…Sweet Land, the Musical contextualizes its entertaining romance within the xenophobia that can erupt in small communities toward a newcomer who is, as one of the songs proclaims, ‘not one of us.’”
- “…conflict unfold[s] in tandem with the quietly evolving relationship between Corcoran’s vivaciously appealing Inge and Kimmel’s initially introverted and taciturn Olaf.”
- “These two players have fine chemistry, and convey the incremental moments (amusing and serious) that draw this prearranged couple slowly together.”
- “Local stage regular Corcoran impressively alternates between speaking fluent German and halting English with (apparent) ease. Moreover, her luscious singing voice lends heft to a score that leans the most on Inge, as in the lovely ‘Peace and Quiet/Northern Lights’ ballad, he whimsically comic ‘Ducky’ and ‘Call Me Inge Torvik,’ a defining trio that also features Hastings’ rich baritone.”
- “in a show about community, it’s fitting that much of the score is sung by the full 10-member ensemble, which also includes the buoyant Chris Shea and April Poland as Inge’s first real friends in her new homeland.
- “…there’s some hum-along, toe-tapping music you might expect, Maccabee’s tunes also have complex vocal lines, angular melodies and unexpected harmonies.”
- “’The Auction’ is especially clever, and reminiscent of the syncopated ‘Rock Island’ number that opens ‘The Music Man.’”
- “Taproot’s capable resident director Karen Lund again smoothly fits a good deal of action (and a bit of energetic dancing) onto Taproot’s small stage. And Mark Lund’s scenic design uses a playful animated projection to suggest the terrain of Minnesota wheat country.”
Broadwayworld.com | Kelly Rogers Flynt
- “[Sweet Land, the Musical] is a sweet treat of a show.”
- “Full of humor, wit, challenges, and struggles, the story of Inge Altenberg and Olaf Torvik becomes an everyman’s story.”
- “Sweet Land also serves up a healthy portion of humor.”
- “Molli Corcoran (Inge Altenberg) has you in her corner from the first moment. Her bright eyes fill with sadness, dance with delight, and implore you for understanding. Her voice is bright and powerful and terribly missed in songs in which she does not sing.”
- “Tyler Todd Kimmel (Olaf Torvik) has a wonderful transformation on stage. He is quiet, almost brooding, a person full of worries without a lot of outward affection. Kimmel manages to portray this in such a way that reminds you that people are complicated and worthy of much more than your initial reaction.”
- “April Poland (Marta “Brownie” Frandsen) is simply delightful.”
- “…a full-on, heel-tapping good time…”
- “The beauty of the show is revealed in Inge’s openness in the face of closed minds.”
- “Through sheer force of will, she makes her new homeland into the sweet land of her dreams.”
Teen Tix Press Corps | Emily B.
- “touching, convicting, and joyful”
- “… a tour de force for Molli Corcoran (Inge) and Tyler Todd Kimmel (Olaf), who carry the story with moving, grounded brilliance.”
- “Corcoran’s vocal versatility and acting ability are immediately evident in her introductory song, which clearly establishes both her talent and Inge’s character (kudos to composer Dina Maccabee and lyricist Laurie Flanigan Hegge for the soaring work of storytelling that is the score).”
- “… Kimmel skillfully creates the character through his striking physicality and presence. Long before he has spoken, the audience knows Olaf well, and, in moments when the stage is full of movement and sound, it is the still, shy farmer who draws the audience’s eye.”
- “a joy to watch.”
- “A meaningful simplicity pervades the musical: seamless pedestrian choreography by Katy Tabb consistently creates the world of Sweet Land and advances its story.”
- “…unassuming moments are imbued with moving significance by director Karen Lund and her skilled company of actors.”
- “The story of an ancestor immigrating to America to start a new life is a familiar piece of family history for many Americans—but in the context of today’s headlines, an immigrant story bears additional, emotionally charged, potentially divisive significance. The musical connects thoughts on immigrants past and present, as the town’s sudden harsh suspicion of Inge as the foreign “other” is painfully familiar.”
- “But as the play progresses, one forgets that it is an “immigrant story,” as audiences recognize themselves in its portrayal of universal human experiences: difficulty communicating, making mistakes, dealing with conflict, giving and facing judgment, courage, defiance, sacrifice, love, and acceptance. And maybe that’s the point: when one strips away the labels slapped on the unfamiliar ones, or on the ones who think or act differently, what is left are humans who are not so different after all. Sweet Land is a powerful challenge to see each other not as ‘us and them,’ but first and foremost as fellow humans, and to treat each other accordingly with respect, empathy, and love.”
The Norwegian American Newspaper | Lori Ann Reinhall
- “Theater-goers are drawn into the immediacy of the moment…”
- “Virtually every aspect of the Seattle production has been well conceived and executed—the casting, the stage design, orchestra, the sound, the lighting, and the choreography—to make for a perfectly enjoyable evening at the theater.”
- “Those who liked the movie Sweet Land—and those for whom it’s new—will undoubtedly fall in love with Sweet Land, the Musical.”
- “With its energetic, emotional music and universal message, Sweet Land, the Musical brings the message of the tolerance, love, and humanity that we need to keep the American Dream alive.”
Drama in the Hood | Alan Sydney
- “Taproot is now staging the show’s successful West Coast premiere.”
- “… the natural beauty of this unabashedly romantic love story is Sweet Land’s most important gift to its audiences.”
- “Tyler Todd Kimmel and Molli Corcoran excel as the two young lovers.”
- “…characters like Pastor Sorenson (an earnest Hugh Hastings) and farmer Alvin (a charming Chris Shea) are very reluctant to accept the pairing of the young couple.”
- “…Kimmel’s character convincingly finds his own voice, enabling him to stand up for love and confront his neighbors. The source of much of this strength comes from the delightful Molli Corcoran’s portrayal of Inge.”
- “Corcoran embodies her character with enough warmth and gumption to easily grab the focus of the play. One of the major joys of the production is watching Inge gain her footing in this strange new world and transition into an essential force, teaching both her potential husband and her suspicious neighbors how effectively love and goodness can conquer many a social and economic road block.”
- “A special shout out here to Accent and Dialect Coach Katya Landau.”
- “I have enjoyed Corcoran in a number of Seattle shows, most notably her work as the talented Kitty Clive in Taproot’s Joyful Noise. Yet, in this show I was ready to believe she really was meeting the English language for the very first time!”
- “The talented Michael Winters adds another conflict into the mix…”
- “April Poland has a good deal of fun playing Alvin’s wife, a strong woman managing both her feckless husband and an ever-growing horde of offspring.”
- “…the play’s tunes … consistently forward the story line and are all sung with gusto.”
- “Molli Corcoran shines with a lovely Broadway-ready soprano voice.”
- “Michael Matlock leads a capable four-piece band.”
- “Director Karen Lund leading with a deft hand, ensures that each character has time to become fully realized during the course of the evening. A key focus for her in this work is the importance of a community.”
Best of Seattle Washington | Jeff Totey
- “The story is a refreshing one…”
- “… plenty of laughs in this fish out of water comedy.”
- “Kimmel and Corcoran are especially good as the potential love birds.”
- “The cast is rounded out with Jenny Cross, Michael Winters, Pam Nolte and Daniel Stoltenberg, all equally good.”
Seattle Gay News/Miryam’s Theater Musings | Miryam Gordon
- “The talented cast does justice to the material.”
- “The energetic performance by Corcoran can’t help but propel the story forward.”
- “Kimmel provides a more subtle, but also strong, support as the taciturn Olaf finally (FINALLY!) warms up to his bride-to-be.”
- “Shea and Poland are a lovely complement to the leads.”
- “The four-person band provides sophisticated accompaniment.”
- “There are some nice moments of choreography (by Katy Tabb) and the usual adept set (Mark Lund), costumes (Kelly McDonald) and direction (Karen Lund).”
- “This isn’t a rousing musical extravaganza. It’s a small story, but it has a lot of strands that harken to the immigrant story of this country and the work we can all do to open our hearts to others and give everyone a chance to contribute what they are able. And that’s a pretty sweet message.”
Eclectic Arts | Mark Sugiyama
- Molli Corcoran portrays Inge as a woman of inner strength who does not bow down to the societal norms of the times.”
- “Olaf’s farming neighbors, Alvin and Brownie Frandsen (played with scene stealing worthiness by Chris Shea and April Poland) take in Inge until the couple can be properly married.”
- “high caliber musicians.”
- “entertaining, humorous, and thought provoking”
- “performances were strong and chances were taken”
- “The use of screens to portray locations, time of day, etc. worked very well…”
- “Molli and Tyler have beautiful voices…”
- “Sweet Land, the Musical was a joy…”
Q13 News This Morning | M.J. McDermott
- Via Twitter: “I enjoyed “Sweet Land” at @TaprootTheatre – a musical about a German woman who immigrates to the U.S. right after World War I to marry a farmer, & they both suffer discrimination, until they save the town. It’s uplifting & has funny parts! And Taproot is air conditioned! #Q13FOX“
Seattle Weekly | Gavin Borchert
- “insightful and touching”
- “… it takes just one chugging fiddle rhythm to evoke a life-changing train journey out of an actress sitting on a bench.”
- “Maccabee’s other stroke of genius was to morph an auctioneer’s patter into an intricate a cappella ensemble.”
- “…the musical’s charms are many, and Taproot does nicely by it.”
- “Molli Corcoran and Tyler Todd Kimmel spark as Inge and Olaf…”
- “…the best Minnesota accent comes from Jenny Cross…”
- “Video animations above and behind the stage and director Karen Lund’s nimble staging clarify the frequent shifts of time and scene…”
Ballard News Tribune | Lindsay Peyton
- “The play on stage at Taproot Theatre seems to spring right out of the nearby Nordic Museum.”
- “This is a tale of immigration, of becoming American. Ultimately, it’s about coming together despite our differences.”
- “The musicians make the show, providing the melodies to keep the story moving.”