The musical Floyd Collins is in production at the Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre through Sunday, Sept. 24. Whether your passion is music, history or theater, this fine production is a must see.
Written by Tina Landau with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, Floyd Collins is an intriguing and incredibly moving account of a true story. Set in rural Kentucky in the 1920s, a man exploring caves in search for the ultimate tourist attraction becomes trapped deep in a cave. His fight for survival unintentionally triggers a media frenzy.
The production is expertly and creatively directed by Erik DeCicco with marvelous musical direction by Aaron DeCicco. The show features an extremely talented cast and an onstage band comprised of some of Northeast Florida’s finest musicians including former Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Philip Pan on violin, multi-instrumentalist Pete Mosely on bass, pianist Erin Barnes and guitarist Jacob Schuman. The score blends Americana with musical theater style and structure, and is incredibly complicated as well as mesmerizing.
Josh Waller is captivating as Floyd Collins. In addition to his powerful vocals, Waller remains on stage throughout the show. You can feel his claustrophobic anxiety and pain when Floyd’s foot gets trapped in the cave. Bill Ratliff delivers an emotionally intense performance as patriarch Lee Collins, and Michael Yarick provides a passionate performance as Floyd’s brother, Homer. Charly Adams is mesmerizing as the sweet sister, Nellie, and Maya Adkins speaks volumes with her quiet strength as Miss Jane. Musician Jacob Schuman gives an impressive performance as the guitar playing Jewell. The harmonies and performances of Schuman, Rob Banks and Brian Johnson are exceptionally strong and appealing. Eric Yarham is convincing as the reporter Skeets Miller. Del Austin as H.T. Carmichael and Kyle Geary as Cliff Roney provide impressive support as did Pete Mosely in a cameo role as Dr. Hazlett. While tension mounts throughout the show, the actors also deliver well timed moments of comic relief.
The set, designed by Erik DeCicco, Gordon Frank and Charly Adams, is outstanding, bringing the audience underground into the cave and is complemented by Bryan Frank’s effective lighting design. Amy Tillotson provided period perfect costume design and also served as stage manager.
Performances continue Sept. 21, 22, 23 and 24. Curtain is 8:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $20. Visit www.abettbeatre.com or call (904) 249-7177.
Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre is located at 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach.
Photography by Susan Roche
