Review: Lincolnview’s ‘Tarzan’ excellent

KATHRYN COOPER/for the Van Wert independent

What a lesson for our world today!  Lincolnview’s production of Tarzan is a drama of two worlds that blend and clash, but learn from the heartaches that result.

Tarzan is a musical that tells the story of a human baby adopted by a gorilla family/tribe deep in the jungle. The original story was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1914, and then was made into a Disney movie, released in 1999.  The Broadway musical version came on the scene in 2006, with Phil Collins writing the musical score and lyrics.

As you walk into the Van Wert Civic Theatre for this production, expect to be overwhelmed by the exotic set.  With the intimate seating there, you feel like you could be dancing along with the tribe.  The music is energetic and full of life and it’s really difficult not to want to join in. The jungle “father”, Kerchak (Braxton Matthews), stands strong defending his family against predators and outsiders, wanting only the best for them.

His sweet wife, Kala (Olivia Snyder), adds great dimension to the story with natural talent and a lovely voice, desperately pleading to let the baby outsider in after grieving over a tragic incident.

The ensemble lends strong voices and intensity to the decisions each character has to make. Terk, (Taite McKinney), Tarzan’s best friend in the jungle, is a joy to watch and listen to as he involves Tarzan in silly antics and serious thoughts.

Tarzan (Skyler Whitaker) is well cast as an innocent but powerful example of the “noble savage”. He and Jane (Miki Dull) sing sweetly together as they begin a friendship and Tarzan’s world is turned upside down.

The other supporting characters, Father (Nick Motycka), Mother (Claire Clay), Jane’s father Porter (Chandler Adams), Clayton (Jacob Pollock), and Snipes (Max Rice), as well as the young Tarzans (Connor Johnson, Kaden Hohman) all give their special touches to round out the action in the drama.  The music and ensemble give power to the story.

Kudos to Stacie Korte for the musical direction, to Kinsey Dobbelaere for helping with the lovely set, Kim Pollock for the choreography, Eric Miglin for running the sound, and especially to Chad Kraner, director of the play, for his vision and time to bring this production to fruition.

Tickets are selling and there is only one weekend left to see this show. The best chance to see it may be the Thursday, April 16, show, since the final Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, shows are nearly out of tickets. Email lincolnviewdrama@gmail.com to reserve tickets.