Theatre Company of Saugus' "Ride the Cyclone": A Compelling Musical

You will soar to great heights on the cyclone rollercoaster!

Step right up and get your tickets for "Ride the Cyclone," performing at the Theatre Company of Saugus. After six teenagers from a Canadian choir are killed in a roller coaster accident, they awake in limbo and are tasked with a difficult quest by a mechanical fortune teller, The Amazing Karnak, who ultimately holds the fates of the teenagers in his hands.

I had never seen "Ride the Cyclone" before, and I had the wonderful opportunity of having the Theatre Company of Saugus introduce me to it. "Ride the Cyclone" is a dark tale, but the Theatre Company of Saugus incorporates funny comedy, compelling character arcs, and a heartwarming message of what it means to live life to the fullest.

Character stories are my favorite, and "Ride the Cyclone" features six actors, who each create compelling characters and dynamics. During rehearsals, the cast said they even rode together on rollercoasters as a bonding experience.

You know what musicals are all about: That’s right, songs. Each teenager delights audiences with a musical number revealing their unique and often tragic backstories.

Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg (Tomiko Nicholson) always insists on being first as the overachiever. Her song, “What the World Needs,” is all about Ocean’s ambitions and her need for validation. Nicholson does a great job in her character’s development, especially in the second act.

Link Bowen portrays Noel Gruber, the only gay teen of the group. One of my favorite musical numbers, “Noel’s Lament,” is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Bowen is respectful of this portrayal and captures the character’s longing for recognition.

Next is Mischa Bachinski (Mark Damon), a Ukrainian bad boy who has a soft side. Damon adds depth to this role, and he is also funny in his deliveries. You never know what the characters have been facing, like in Mischa’s “This Song is Awesome.”

Arth Joshi adds warmth and charm to Ricky Potts, a quiet young man with a fantastical imagination. His number, “Space Age Bachelors,” transforms the stage into an otherworldly planet.

Living in the shadows of her best friend, Constance Blackwood (Amanda Raponi) is forced to constantly bite her tongue. Raponi is splendid in “Sugarcloud,” unleashing her character’s true feelings.

The mysterious Jane Doe, the unnamed girl who lost her identity in the crash, is hauntingly portrayed to perfection by Kristen Sehn. She moves like a broken doll and “The Ballad of Jane Doe” is a chilling and emotional song that highlights this character’s grief. The blacklight special effects makeup also enhances the scene.

Teresias Cogsprocket and Michael Silvia play the voice and puppeteer of The Amazing Karnak. More roles include Talia (Maggie Kelleher), Virgil (Spencer Edward), and Showgirls played by Mariah Mulcahy Hanzel and Erin Kelley.

This is the fourth show I’ve seen at the Theatre Company of Saugus. Though it’s a small space, this company completely transforms its theater into new settings. For "Ride the Cyclone," Jason Hair-Wynn and the team transform the area into an eerie, abandoned amusement park - complete with a bumper car, flickering carnival lights, and a fortune teller machine.

Jason Hair-Wynn has an eye for compelling character stories. He worked well with the cast, creating a very human story about grief. He transports audiences into this world, filling it with emotion.

What does it mean to live a good life? Shows about appreciating life are important, especially now. To enhance the authenticity, Hair-Wynn collected photographs of cast members and people outside the show, celebrating life in slideshows. I wasn’t expecting to feel tears in the climax.

"Ride the Cyclone" ends on Nov. 2 at Theatre Company of Saugus. It’s a thought-provoking character study with catchy songs!