Kendra Kassebaum (center) stars as Milly Bradon in the opening night performance of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
A scene from “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
A scene in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
A scene from “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
Edward Watts stars as Adam Pontipee in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
Kendra Kassebaum (center) stars as Milly Bradon in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
A scene from “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
A scene from “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
A scene from “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
Kendra Kassebaum (left) as Milly Bradon and Brandon L. Whitmore as Gideon perform in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
Theatergoers prepare to watch the opening-night performance of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
Edward Watts stars as Adam Pontipee and Kendra Kassebaum stars as Milly Bradon in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
Kendra Kassebaum (left) stars as Milly Bradon and Edward Watts stars as Adam Pontipee in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at The Muny in Forest Park on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.
Playing at the Muny through Wednesday, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” is the very definition of the classic American musical.
Based on a 1954 film directed by Hollywood legend Stanley Donen, this tale of Oregon backwoodsmen who long for romance but have little experience with women is bursting with big emotions, catchy songs and a joyful disregard for the improbabilities of its plot.
The show extends an invitation to just go with it, and the audience is happy to oblige.
Directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, “Seven Brides” traces the evolving relationship between Milly Bradon (Kendra Kassebaum), an overworked waitress, and Adam Pontipee (Edward Watts), a charismatic mountain man who ventures into town.
Milly, who had hoped to lighten her load, is perhaps too quick to accept his marriage proposal, as Adam neglects to mention that he has six brothers. And they’re as unkempt and unconcerned with conforming to the standards of civilized society as he is.
The brothers are also in need of female companionship, and they find it with six young townswomen whom they persuade to come home with them. Ultimately, that causes a rift between Milly and Adam. But it’s nothing that heaping helpings of song and dance can’t fix.
With songs written by lyricist Johnny Mercer and composer Gene de Paul for the film, and additional songs by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, “Seven Brides” is by turns stirringly exuberant and achingly lyrical.
