STAGE REVIEWS : ‘BARNUM’

Buena Park Civic Theater’s production of “Barnum” has the charm of a circus calliope: It’s brash, noisy, old-fashioned and a bit creaky but exuberant enough to be diverting.

The musical recounts key moments in the life of P.T. Barnum, the notorious impresario who pioneered the traveling circus and was instrumental in creating “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Barnum’s history was marked by peaks and valleys, and the show presents songs that describe his failures--a political career that went nowhere and an entertainment museum that burned--and his eventual show business successes. The “world’s smallest man,” Gen. Tom Thumb, and “The Swedish Nightingale,” Jenny Lind, found their way onto American stages with Barnum’s help. When not dwelling on his carnival world, “Barnum” focuses on the sometimes rocky but mostly loving relationship he shared with his wife, Chairy.

It’s not the most adventurous of musicals--the score is often repetitive and the songs, while spiked with Big Top flavor, are not particularly emorable. But the cast does what it can with the limited material. The large chorus brings tireless pluck to the complicated and colorful production numbers, and the stars (John Vaughan as Barnum and Melissa Swift as Chairy) make use of their strong voices to get the most out of the songs. Vaughan’s acting, however, tends to be one-dimensional; he communicates Barnum’s unstoppable energy but fails to reveal the master huckster’s darker, more opportunistic and manipulative side.

There is some obvious talent in the supporting roles, particularly Claire Peters as Jenny Lind. Peters has a silky soprano--her short coloratura solo is flawless--and a beguiling comedy streak. Elisabeth Graham also shows a knack for slapstick as Joice Heth, the senior citizen Barnum first passes off as “The World’s Oldest Woman” and later as “George Washington’s nurse.”

“Barnum” runs through Nov. 2 at the Buena Park High School auditorium, Magnolia Street and Academy Way, Buena Park. For information, call (714) 821-1010.