Centerstage - Chicago's Original City Guide

Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre
Tickets (847) 634-0200 Through March 22nd

Elmer Gantry, based on a Nobel Prize-winning novel by Sinclair Lewis, was later made into a powerful film which won four 1960 Academy Awards. In its newest incarnation at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre, it loses some of its effectiveness, but still manages to be an entertaining evening.

Elmer Gantry tells the story of a preacher, conman and salesman travelling small Midwest towns in the 1930s. Elmer Gantry (the very talented Tom Zemon) happens upon Sister Sharon Falconer (a captivating Kerry OMaley) and her travelling salvation show in Lincoln, Nebraska and goes about insinuating himself into the show, and into the bed of Sister Sharon. With Gantry, the salvation show becomes a rousing revivalist extravaganza. As the show becomes more and more famous, Gantry and Sister Sharon move >from being business partners to being lovers. Gantry and Sister Sharons relationship changes dramatically, however, as Sister Sharon begins to believe in her own divine powers. The story then changes angles as the troupe moves to Zenith, the largest city in the Midwest (a 1930s version of Chicago). Once in Zenith, Merle Blanchard (Joel Hatch), a wealthy businessman involved in organized crime, offers to build a church for Sister Sharon, giving her a permanent place to preach her brand of salvation. This, of course, is exactly what she wants, because she feels that she truly has a connection with the Almighty. Gantry sees exactly whats happening, that this is nothing more than a moneymaking venture for Blanchard, and with the help of his former theology classmate Frank Shallard (David Studwell) goes about trying to expose the scheme for what it is, with deadly consequences.

The problem with a musical version of Elmer Gantry is that it is easy to miss the point of the show and get mired down in the revival meetings. Despite some excellent performances, the show seems lopsided. A good musical should have songs that advance the plot, not just entertain. As in this show, the majority of the musical numbers seem to have nothing to do with the actual conflict in the story. Blanchard seems to go from good guy to villain in no time whatsoever, and the startling ending seems rushed and diminished. What Elmer Gantry does have however, is a marvelous command of the evangelistic tone of the show. It doesnt matter if you are a religious person or not, its hard not to get swept up in the revival meetings. In that right, it is an extremely entertaining show.

Marriott Lincolnshire has done all it can to counteract the shows flaws. Director Eric D. Schaeffer has paced this production very well, and Choreographer Kenny Ingram has moved the cast flawlessly on the extremely inventive set by Thomas M. Ryan. The best performances in the show come >from Tom Zemon as Elmer Gantry, Kerry OMalley as Sister Sharon, Joel Hatch as Merle Blanchard and Julie Ann Emory as Paula, one of Gantrys conquests.

All in all, Elmer Gantry is an uneven night at the theatre, but oddly, you will probably leave feeling quite good.