Page 20 Thursday, July 22, 1999 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION ArtsArts andand EntertainmentEntertainment Oliver! Brings Out Concert Review “The difference between false memories and true ones is the Bruce Springsteen Continues Best of Local Talent same as for jewels: it is always the false ones that look the most unreal, the most brilliant.” --Salvador Dali To Reinforce Followers Fervor At NJPAC in Newark As He Rocks Meadowlands By FRED ROSSI encores with an acoustic folksong, By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN Romantic. However, when I saw his Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times “Freehold,” an often humorous auto- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times stellar portrayal of Faggin, I was MEADOWLANDS — If rock ‘n’ biographical reminiscence of his NEWARK — The rounds of ap- bowled over and thoroughly im- roll was a religion, then Bruce hometown. plause for the performance of Oliver! pressed. Marc is brimming with tal- Springsteen would be its minister. He then shook the arena with thun- by the Westfield Young Artists’ Co- ent and possibility. He delivered one While the rousing revival meeting derous versions of “Stand on It,” operative Theatre, Inc. (WYACT) of the most commendable perfor- he staged with his reunited E Street “Hungry Heart,” “Born to Run,” crackled and ripped through the au- mances in Oliver! Band last Thursday night at Continen- “Bobby Jean” and “Thunder Road.” dience like thunder at the Victoria Katie Rae Mulvey, who portrayed tal Airlines Arena He ended the night with “If I Should Theater of the New Jersey Perform- may have been a case Fall Behind,” with the male character of Oliver Twist, several band mem- ing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark delivered a strong rendition of the of preaching to the on July 16, opening night. converted, none of bers taking turns wide-eyed orphan longing to find love the 20,000 fans singing the chorus, in a family. whooping it up for and the newly- Anne Brummell’s depic- the man known as penned “Land of tion of Nancy, a woman in “The Boss” seemed Hope and love with an abusive man, to mind having their Dreams” before was worth a standing ova- faith reinforced and exiting the stage to tion. She displayed grit, vul- reinvigorated. loud cheers at nerability and tenderness For three hours, 11:10 p.m. with continuity. She didn’t Springsteen and his Springsteen, miss a trick. Her voice was eight-member band, who turns 50 in Sep- flawless during “As Long which hadn’t played tember, has always As He Needs Me,” and she together in concert been an energetic held her character’s person- for more than a de- performer. Last ality from scene to scene. Kassy Ciasulli cade, blasted joy- week, he certainly She never faltered. fully and energeti- didn’t act his age, Kassy Ciasulli, who is the cally through 26 as he displayed as understudy for Nancy, is cer- Kassy Ciasulli Soars For Stars: songs, some of them much verve and tainly no understudy. She Kassy Ciasulli Soars For Stars: dating back to the ebullience as he did mid-1970s, when Springsteen, a 10 and 15 years ago. And he seemed held her own with the de- happy to be reunited with the E Street piction of Mrs. Sowerberry, Freehold native, was just another Singing For Big League Games, guitarist and songwriter with dreams Band, 10 years after informing them the prudish yet comical un- of becoming a big rock star. he would be pursuing other musical dertaker who has temporary Two things set Springsteen con- avenues without them. custody of Oliver. She Performing at Arts Center certs apart from others: their length After last Thursday’s show, the first segued into other parts, such — three hours these days and four of 15 sold-out performances at the as Strawberry Vendor, with hours plus in the 1970s and 1980s — arena, exhausted but delighted fans the same professionalism sey Pilots, at PAL events for Berke- and the fervor of his fans. were unanimous in their reactions. she gave to her starring role. By MICHELLE H. LePOIDEVIN Dale Cassidy, a Jersey Shore native Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times ley Heights, Mountainside sport pro- Despite the comfortable seats, Abigail Sparling’s por- which sold for $37.50 and $67.50 who drove five hours from her present MOUNTAINSIDE – Rising star and grams and the Senatorial Rally home in suburban Washington, D.C., ARTFUL ACTORS…Oliver Twist was portrayed trayal of the Widow Corney through official outlets and as much was hysterical and a true Mountainside resident, Kassy which was held last year in her as $1,000 elsewhere, no one sat for told The Westfield Leader that “the by Katie Rae Mulvey, left, and The Artful Dodger Ciasulli, has been singing her way to was played by Darren Levy in Oliver! at the New stand-out performance. “I home town. long last week. Fans danced in the energy in there was absolutely phe- Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Both Shall Scream,” which was the top this summer with perfor- However, one of Kassy’s aisles, sang along with just about nomenal — from the band and the performances garnered thunderous applause on part of one of the best scenes mances at local sporting events as biggest dreams is about every song, screamed themselves fans. That is exactly why I came all opening night, July 16. in Oliver!, featured Abigail’s well as the prestigious honor of per- to come true. On Au- hoarse with choruses of “Brooooce” this way tonight. I’ve been to a dozen comical antics as well as her forming in Oliver! at The New Jer- before, during and after each song, Bruce concerts in my life and there is gust 5, she will per- and were whipped into a delighted a different level of passion and inti- Phenomenal. Exceeding all expec- operatic voice, which fit the part sey Performing Arts Center in New- form the National tations – these are the phrases that frenzy from the time the arena lights macy in there than anywhere else.” perfectly. ark. Anthem at the Her husband, Greg, was seeing come to mind when recalling the Darren Jeremy Levy as The Artful were turned off and the stark and Here’s a quick recap. You might Meadowlands spare stage was lit. Springsteen for the first time last ensemble cast and thoroughly pro- Dodger was one of the best perfor- week. “I’m spoiled now,” he told The fessional production which was remember the May 6 review in The Hambletonian After his eight bandmates took their mances I have ever witnessed. When places, Springsteen stepped on stage Leader. “I’ve been to concerts be- clearly beyond Broadway standards. he stepped out on the stage, he owned Westfield Leader and The Times on Race before a Kassy’s razor sharp and sassy per- to wild cheers and opened the show fore and I’ve never seen anyone put Artistic and Stage Director of the stage. All eyes could not help but packed audience with “My Love Will Not Let You on a three-hour non-stop show. I Oliver! and founder of WYACT to search out his character and appre- formance with The Tim Gillis Band after she polishes Down,” a song from his 1998 four- don’t want anyone to tell me that Cynthia Meryl, who is known by ciate the professionalism he brought at Governor Livingston High off a week of perfor- CD collection of previously- anyone else is the hardest working Westfielders, thespians, and her stu- to his part. School. She delivered rock lyrics mances in Oliver! unreleased tunes, “Tracks.” Then he man in show business.” dents for her pursuit of perfection, Other notable performances in- with grit and gospel hymns with A student at Governor Livingston took out his harmonica and stormed Julia Yanovich, a 13-year old from reached for that level and never missed cluded Arion Jackson as Mr. Bumble, grace. She stole the stage. High School, Kassy has told The into “The Promised Land,” followed Westfield who was attending her first the mark. Ms. Meryl told The Westfield The Beadle; Kate Fraser as Char- Most recently, Kassy has song the by “Two Hearts” and “Darkness on Springsteen concert, said she thought Leader and The Times during an inter- Leader and The Times that she hopes it was “a really good show.” She told lotte, and Richard McNanna as Mr. National Anthem for the New Jer- the Edge of Town.” view for This Is Westfield what an Brownlow. However, it seems that to record her own album, just like By the time he ended the fifth song The Leader she “liked being a part of honor it was to be asked back to each member of this ensemble has sey Jakals. She has also stepped up her favorite artist, Cher. For Kassy of the night, “Darlington County,” the audience because everyone was NJPAC after the 1998 production of Broadway potential. to the plate to sing that patriotic Ciasulli, it looks like dreams have a the arena seemed set to explode. The singing along and having a good Carousel. It was clearly an honor and According to Elisabeth Ssenjovu, tune at the home games of the Jer- way of coming to fruition. set also included such fan favorites time.” privilege for both parties to enter into Programming Assistant at NJPAC, the as “Badlands,” “Tenth Avenue After the 15 shows this month and that partnership once again. dedication to theater didn’t stop with Freeze-Out” and “Backstreets,” his in August, Springsteen will pass the 1 “I’m very proud of the kids.