On Tuesday evening, the lights dimmed in Bellamy Theatre, the audience hushed and the stage was set for the Clemson Players’ production of “Ride the Cyclone.”
The musical tells the story of six teenagers who lose their lives in a roller coaster accident, and now, must recount their life stories while in purgatory in an attempt to return back to the land of the living.
The first aspect I noticed was the exciting set design, which was textured and colorful. The set also had varying dimensions that the actors can live in, with multiple levels and aisles in between the audience.
“The set, designed by Shannon Robert, is nothing short of fantastic,” said Paisley Hodges, junior performing arts major and a singer, set designer and understudy for “Ride the Cyclone.” “Combined with lighting, sound, and projections, the whole show is wonderful to both look at and listen to!”
The set took full advantage of the space. The bright amusement park theme matched the fun yet morbid tone of the story, with the lighting adding a lively dimension to the musical numbers.
There were many moments where each cast member had a moment to demonstrate their singing chops, with everyone giving me at least one eyebrow-raising moment. The singers were given the proper room to demonstrate their respective vocal talents, which was a high point of the viewing experience.
The actors were also joined by a small but versatile orchestra, providing the proper accompaniment for the various musical genres displayed in the production.
“This show is so different than most musicals because it has so many types of music,” Isabella Balfour, senior performing arts major and actor who played Constance Blackwood, said. “I truly believe there is a song for everyone to enjoy.”
The comedy aspect of this show was hit and miss, but what’s most important is that the portions dedicated to significant comedic moments landed well. There are a few lines that don’t hit as hard, but they are brief and ultimately do not hurt the impact of the overall performance. The big moments of humor hit hard and are some of the highlights of “Ride the Cyclone.”
“Ride the Cyclone” was one of the most outstanding productions I’ve seen from the Clemson Players, who continue to show off the remarkable talent in these hills.
