The Arts / Performance

BELLY UP TO THE BAR

By David Burke | Wednesday, May 21, 2008 | () comments

A new Quad-City theater company is making its debut with a different type of show.

“Elegies,” playing this weekend and next at the Village Theatre in the Village of East Davenport, is Riverbend Theatre Collective’s first production, a “song cycle,” written by William Finn, who also composed “Falsettos” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

An elegy is a hymn of praise to someone who has died.

“Each song is kind of its own character, its own story about someone Bill had lost to cancer or AIDS or any number of illnesses out there,” said Allison Collins-Ellfine, company founder, artistic director and one of six in the cast. Despite that template, Collins-Ellfine said it’s not an entirely somber production.

“It’s hysterically funny and upbeat and quirky and weird,” she said. “But, yes, there are some sentimental moments in it.”

The company has set the show in a bar, with different characters addressing the bartender. For a video preview, go to youtube.com/watch?v=2eoeklJLNpU