Hundred Days - Theatre Elision

You should know by now that if Theatre Elision is doing a show at the playhouse, it will be a must-see, and a show you probably have never heard of. What better combination is there?

Well, in the case of Hundred Days, the better combination are the combined voices of Christine Wade, and Ryan Lee - singing their hearts and souls out to each other, and to the audience, leading us (the audience) through their story. Their story is a true story based on the lives and experiences of Abigail and Shaun Bengson. We find out that these two folk-rock singers met, and three weeks later were married. Don't worry, I did the math as well. Three weeks does not a hundred days make. So where does the title come in?

Wel, Abigail has a past that we don't really hear too much about beyond the fact that she has very vivid dreams that may be prophetic in ways. For example, in this work she tells of having a dream about a man and her floating in the ocean, in a diner booth. The first time Abigail really sits and talks to Shaun - they meet in a diner, and sit at a booth...just like in her dream. Another part of the dreams is that the man she falls in love with will have a hundred days to live. She doesn't share either bits of this information with Shaun, but it does haunt her. Anyways - they meet, they continue the conversation from the diner, all night, and she moves in because that is the way their specific relationship goes. There is more depth to this, clearly, but that is something you will need to experience and hear for yourself.

In real life, Abigail and Shaun do create a band together. And in the same way, this show is backed with a band - and what a great band it is. Eight members, (Emily Hensley, Benjamin Emory Larson, Joni Griffith, Rae Wasson, Miles Whealy, and Harrison Wade) all lending their musical (and often vocal) talent to the mix. All supporting Christine and Ryan as they tell their story through song. It is a really wonderful piece of music theatre - and only about 80 min long. This was my first time hearing Ryan Lee and I often thought that vocally he reminded me of Glen Hansard. I was not surprised to see in the program that he has been in a production of Once (hopefully playing the lead). Christine...well, I'm not sure I have words left for her praise. However, I truly appreciate that she is always looking for new works, and works that stretch her as a performer and as a vocalist. There is a section of this show where her and Emily (another amazing vocalist), were vocalizing back and forth. The style reminded me of Mary Margaret O'Hara, as well as a touch of Yoko Ono (don't be scared, embrace the unknown). It was stunning. It also made me think how much I want to see Theatre Elision do a production of Hadestown - but with Christine as one of the Fates, and maybe Emily as Eurydice. Ryan could come back as Orpheus... I am putting that energy out into the world now. 

Ok, stop reading this. Change your browser away from my blog (for now) and head over to the website and buy yourself a ticket. You won't regret it.