"'Almost Heaven' Is Sweetness and Might Narration out of place in musical by John Moore Denver Post 4/1/2002 For anyone who has lost a loved one, five years might as well be five hours ago. Thursday night didn't feel like the opening of a joyous musical celebrating the life of John Denver five years after he died in a plane crash. It felt like the hootenanny that might have taken place back at the house a few hours after the graveside service. You probably know the feeling. It's late in the day and the tears have dried but lurk just under the surface. An air of reverence still hangs thick, though a small part of you just wants to bust out in a raucous celebration. That's what the world premiere of "Almost Heaven: Songs and Stories of John Denver" felt like at the Stage Theatre: Denver's pleasant, foot-stomping music set against a funereal backdrop that keeps things from ever reaching that one moment of pure, spontaneous bliss Denver would have so appreciated. "Almost Heaven" is not so much a stage musical as an elegant musical eulogy to a good man who moved millions with his songwriting and humanitarian efforts. While others sang about how bad the world was, Denver sang about how great it felt to be alive. But for all those closest to Denver whether by blood, bond or fantasy, his death clearly still feels like five hours ago. I imagine Denver would have gently prodded everyone Thursday to lighten up a bit. I have it on good authority that life ain't nothing but a funny, funny riddle. C'mon. Have some fun. Not that the evening is devoid of fun, at least when the music plays. The triumph of "Almost Heaven" is Jeff Waxman's gorgeous arrangement of songs that made eagles soar and horses run. Denver's songs are beautifully reinvented, blended and harmonized. It is surprising how effectively they transition to the context of musical theater. Its weakness is the book by director Peter Glazer. The songs are unnecessarily framed by cast members acting as rotating narrators, spouting already-familiar facts from Denver's life in a stale, documentary tone that drains energy between songs. They read fan letters that are at once poignant and a little creepy. The women ask pedantic questions of the men, who take turns answering as Denver. "The war was changing everything," one says. "Was it ever!" another adds. "So what happened next?" asks a third. It feels like the kids from "Godspell" asking Jesus a parable's meaning. When a woman asks "Denver" a question, he responds: "I think the answer is in my music." Yes! That's the best argument why "Almost Heaven" should be a dialogue-free, musical revue. It should be all about the music. The casually dressed cast of six capable singers makes no attempt to mimic Denver vocally. But they're likable and kind of nerdy in a way Denver and his fans might recognize in themselves. The first thing you notice are those treacly smiles. They never go away. Never. Not even when they are singing. "Those smiles must be wiped clean," the bugger on your left shoulder tells you. "Oh, go easy on them," entreats the angel on your right. But if you're not careful, by night's end, one of those sugary smiles might find its way to your own face. The songs are performed on a concert-style set by James Dardenne. Three screens show photos and videos that give context to each song. Denver's own nature photographs are projected onto the stage floor. The songs sound familiar, but fresh, especially when sung by the three women. Emily Bauer's "Annie's Song", Lisa Asher's "Sunshine On My Shoulders" and Allison Briner's "Poems, Prayers and Promises" bring a new, feminine clarity to songs of already uncommon humanity. When the three combine for "Wild Montana Skies," it is spine-tingling. "Leaving On A Jet Plane," Denver's hit for Peter, Paul and Mary, opens with the Changal Kreviazuk video from "Armageddon." Some of the best numbers are the lesser-known gems. David Ranson's "For You" is an aching solo ballad. Surprisingly, the arrangement that works least is an up-tempo, softly electric "Rocky Mountain High," which here sounds a bit like a jingle. The best numbers are those that build into choral juggernauts. The audience is used to hearing Denver's distinctive solo voice, but the first act builds to a stunning crescendo with all six singing "Eagles and Horses," and the second act with "Yellowstone", an unfinished song Denver was working on at the time of his death. We see Denver's face throughout, but we don't hear his voice until late in the second act <"Songs of">. The finale, "Yellowsone", begins with a rare 1996 home video of Denver sitting by a mountain riverside during a camping trip. He starts the song but stops abruptly, looks to the camera and says, "Can't wait to hear where it ends up." When the cast takes over for him, the power is unexpected and unmistakable. It helps that the singers are backed by an incredible seven-piece hoot-band playing everything from piano to stand-up bass to violin to mandolin. The ultimate barometer of any play is its effect upon the masses, and they loved it. The entire run is sold out. Even though Denver's songs were geographically predisposed to the West, "Almost Heaven" might also find adoring audiences elsewhere because of the universality of the message. Cynics will laugh, if they even dare show up, but mockery comes more naturally to us than kindness. Denver's life is evidence that it takes more courage to stand up with your naked soul open to the possibility of goodness. That's part of his legacy. Take that, bugger on the left. ___________________________________________________________ "Almost Heaven: Songs and Stories of John Denver Written and directed by: Peter Glazer Presented by; Denver Center Theater Company Stage Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis Streets / Running time: 2 hours, 5 minutes Set list, Act 1: 'All of My Memories,' 'For Bobbie,' 'Rhymes and Reasons,' 'Draft Dodger Rag,' 'I Wish I Could Have Been There,' 'Take Me Home, Country Roads,' 'I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado,' 'Rocky Mountain High,' 'Matthew/Let Us Begin,' 'Eagles and Horses' Set List, Act 2: 'Thank God I'm A Country Boy' medley: 'Annie's Song/Goodbye Again/How Can I Leave You Again/Back Home Again,' 'Leavin' On A Jet Plane,' 'For You,' 'Looking For Space,' 'Sunshine On My Shoulders,' 'Wild Montana Skies,' 'Songs of,' 'Poems, Prayers & Promises,' 'Yellowstone' 303-893-4100 http://www.denvercenter.org