Parade

If the title is "Parade" and a musical, one would think it would be a happy, happy play.  NOT!!

The play takes place in the early 1900's in Atlanta, George and is based on the Leo Frank case.  Leo is a Jewish man from New York who has not felt comfortable living in the south even though he has married a Jewish woman.  The difference is that she is able to assimilate to the life in the south, but he has not.  

A young girl is murdered in the basement of the pencil factory he manages.  Based on an eye-witness testimony by a black man who has a questionable reputation, Leo is found guilty in court and in the eyes of the community.  But due to efforts by wealthy supporters from the North to appeal his case, it seemed as if the Civil War was being fought again.  In fact, at the start of the play is the tearful farewell of a confederate soldier going off to war as his fiancee waves goodbye.  The same soldier, in his old age sees the death of the young girl similar to the death of his fiancee who did not survive the Civil War.  The emotions of the community raise up against Leo as a way to still fight against the Northerners.  At the end, Leo is lynched and what a terrible scene to watch.

I have mixed emotions when such a terrible story is presented in a musical format.  But it still worked.  The main character was played by T.R. Knight, an actor who plays a resident doctor in Grey's Anatomy.  Singing wasn't his strong point, but he held his own.

Good job.