The Ensemble in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Sunday in the Park with George. Photo by Mark Garvin

“White — A blank page, or canvas — his favorite. So many … possibilities.”

This past weekend I headed over to the Arden Theater to see their production of Sunday in the Park with George. The musical, created by Stephen Sondheim in the 80s, is about famed artist Georges Seurat and his painting Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The musical examines the artist and the people who inspired the painting, and then fast forwards 100 years to Georges’ great-grandson, a struggling artist in his own right.

The original Broadway production was nominated for 10 Tony awards, winning in two technical categories: Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design. But it’s that scenic/lighting design that is part of what makes Sunday in the Park with George such a wonderfully unique production that demands to be seen, and appeals to us Geeks.

More after the jump…

Sunday in the Park with George isn’t an easy for a show to pull off, especially if the theater hopes to live up to the original Broadway production or the recent revival. But that did not deter the Arden in the slightest. Instead, they pulled out all the stops and created a production that was truly brilliant and awe inspiring. Their production plan was so ambitious that it earned praised from Stephen Sondheim himself:

“At a time when so many larger organizations are producing reduced forms of shows like mine and the work of other experimental theatre composers, it is heartening to know that the Arden exists. I applaud them for their commitment to not scaling back their art, especially at this time of economic uncertainty. I give my blessings and thanks to the Arden and everything they stand for.”

For this production, the Arden theater called upon Jorge Cousineau, dubbed “Philadelphia’s theater magician” by Philly.com. Cousineau’s design for Sunday in the Park with George uses nine video projectors and thirteen speakers to accomplish the task of bringing both Georges and George’s art to life on stage before the audience’s very eyes.

From the very beginning of the play, the audience is treated to visual spectacle. As Georges Seurat sketches away, the large white screen behind him reveals the contents of the sketch pad. And when he rips away the page to begin anew, so the page is “ripped” away from the screen. As he describes the changes he makes to his sketch, the screen reveals those changes to the audience. And then, of course, there’s the creation of the famed painting itself. We not only get to see it as it progresses, but the final work as well, all displayed by the magic of projectors and light.

Jeffrey Coon as George in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Sunday in the Park with George. Photo by Mark Garvin.

As the second act begins, the audience is introduced to great-grandson George, a digital artist who has created a piece called a “Chromolume” that uses a machine to create images with color and light. He is a modern version of his artistic ancestor. And it is in this second act where Jorge Cousineau’s design for the play really shines. There are so many moving panels with digital projections, all perfectly in sync, interacting with the actors, and gliding across the stage. It was at this point where I really had to pick my jaw up off the floor. Cousineau certainly lives up to his “Philadelphia’s theater magician” title, especially in this production.

I can’t end this review without commenting on the actors’ performances. After all, the best lighting in the world does not guarantee a good production. But each and every member of the Sunday in the Park with George cast did a spectacular job. I was particularly impressed with Kristine Fraelich, who played Dot. Her voice was just magical. This talented group did not have to worry about being upstaged by the special effects in the slightest. Rather, the lighting design perfectly complimented their incredible performances.

There’s still plenty of time to go catch a performance of the Arden theater’s Sunday in the Park with George, as it is playing until July 4th, 2010. You can purchase tickets online at the Arden’s website.