Danny Johnson and band shine in Magnus’ season opener.
Derek Wall
A&E Editor
As far as season openers go, Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave, is an unusual choice. It seems more often than not that a theatre company starts its year with fanfare: utilizing an elaborate set, a famous script, and a large cast. Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave (HM:SHNG) utilizes none of these norms and, maybe not so surprisingly, the show is better off for it.
Danny Johnson’s performance was moving, to say the least. Johnson has accepted the challenge of portraying Hank Williams and brings forward both showmanship and his more vulnerable side. He handles the concert banter with an experienced showman’s ease, yet we see his comfort and stability drop as Hank becomes increasingly more unhinged through the arc of the story.
Apart from Johnson, another of the show’s major strengths lies in its simplicity. When the technical and set aspects of a show are pared down there is more room for the show to be driven by the characters. Also, when a show is pared down as much as HM:SHNG, shifts in lighting and set are much more dramatic.
For example, while the band is covering for Hank’s late arrival at the top of the show, we are treated to a slide-show (done by local photographer, Jean Paul) depicting history as it happened: Hank Williams dying in his sleep on his way to the gig. We see history “rewound” and then take to the hypothetical path of Hank arriving alive at the concert the audience has gathered to see.
And speaking of the band, for the most part, the play does act more as an actual Hank Williams concert: a concert with absolutely top-notch musicians. Danny Johnson makes for a great vocalist and guitarist but he truly is one fifth of what makes the music of HM:SHNG work so well. Williams’ backing band is made up of local musicians Rob Jardine on Steel Guitar, Pierre Schryer on the Fiddle, David Smyth on Electric Guitar, and Dan Zadkovich on the Double Bass. The entire band meshes perfectly to recreate Hank’s best-known and more obscure tunes.
The sound that comes from the band is absolutely infectious. Let’s just say I have never heard a “Yeehaw” yelled out by a Magnus patron before.
HM:SHNG is a strong piece for Magnus to kick start its season. The music is great, the pace keeps moving, and the Johnson’s performance is insightful and emotional. Fans of live theatre or country music will not be disappointed by this night out. Heck, if you’re a fan of both, you’re in for a real treat.