Dazzling, decadent ‘Noel’ performance deserved standing ovation

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

By Mary Grossman

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-I have to admit, I’ve always been a little reluctant to go any place of worship to be entertained, fearing that I might be straight-jacketed into my chair (or pew) and proselytized at. Friday night I put my reluctances aside and attended the opening performance of “Noel: Night of Everlasting Love” presented by River Crossing (formerly the Jackson Hole Christian Center) in Rafter J. I had read about the top talents of Derric Johnson and his a cappella group “The Liberty Voices” and was eager to experience River Crossing’s new artist-in-residence, Eddie Anders. Further, my daughter wanted to see Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel from the Little Mermaid.

Upon arrival, guests were treated to hot chocolate and cookies in a heated tent. This, my kids thought, was a nice touch on a cold night. Inside, the darkened sanctuary was transformed into a theatrical setting which included a hinged backdrop that could be opened like pages of a book. The wings of the stage were adorned with Christmas trees and pine garlands. Two men dressed as toy soldiers guarded the stage.

The show opened with the arrival of Eddie Anders on stage, a likable guy who struck me as a nifty Brit rather than a seasoned Nashville songster. Trick roper Johnny Lonestar took the stage for a terrific schtick. I recognized him from NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” in which he charmed and roped his way to the semifinals. Lonestar, dressed in tight-fitting, sequined and studded polyester Cowboy get-up, performed a hair-raising routine of gun slinging and rope tricks. Volunteer Trent Moore, St. John’s Episcopal Church’s youth director, reluctantly succumbed to the Lonestar’s death-defying bull whip, which traveled at speeds up to 750 miles per hour.

Anders provided the bulk of the musical framework for the show. Anders is a mega-talent with a pleasing and versatile voice who can impersonate almost any musical star. We don’t often see this in Jackson Hole, the energetic artist who can captivate any audience with not only pure talent, but with personality and wit. River Crossing congregation members are lucky to see him each week.

The majority of my praise, however, goes to Derric Johnson and “The Liberty Voices,” an octet comprised of four men and four women from Disney World. The group sang hard and often. Their outrageous arrangements of Christmas standards were dazzlingly intricate and stunning.

The rest of the program was delightful. If you saw the performance, you most likely recognized local faces in “The Wyoming Homecoming” and “The Living Christmas Card” acts. Local singer Laura Turner, accompanied by Anders and violinist Tara Wiley, sang “White Christmas” while cowboy-clad couples two-stepped in the foreground. Aspen Kinley, who didn’t look a day over 6 years old, danced and sang “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.” She was darling, and the fact that she was really missing her two front teeth was the icing on the cake.

The finale, “The Living Christmas Card,” brought Jodi Benson to the stage. Benson, perched behind a microphone and dressed in a shimmering sequined top, narrated the story of the birth and death of Jesus. All the while, characters of the living nativity scene assembled. They were dressed in beautiful white and silver costumes and, one by one, froze on stage like a photograph. Together the delightful cast of locals, the costumes, Eddie Anders and “The Liberty Voices” made this piece visually, as well as musically, stunning.  Benson did fine but added little to the performance compared to the rest of the cast. Perhaps this act should have been narrated by one of the many talented members of their River Crossing congregation.

The final moments were odd. The producers chose to ditch a “wow factor” finale and instead ended with some announcements, which left an awkward silence for the audience. That was disappointing because it didn’t leave an opportunity for the crowd to cheer, give a standing ovation or call for an encore. Oh well.

These minor pitfalls didn’t wipe the smile away from my face. The entire performance was topnotch, captivating and fun. “Noel: Night of Everlasting Love” is the product of a hard-working and talented congregation and if you missed it, fear not - there’s lots more to come from the folks down at River Crossing.

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Dazzling, decadent ‘Noel’ performance deserved standing ovation | Planet JH News Article: General Music Arts and Culture

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