The Right 'Notes": 'Notes of Love' at the May River Theatre

Music has a power like nothing else to make us recall loves past and present, break-ups, makeups, and first encounters.

That why's Jodi Dupuis, director and choreographer of the revue "Notes of Love," which opens tonight at the May River Theatre in Bluffton, believes audiences will see their own romantic ups and downs in her new show. "They'll hear music they may have forgotten and that will bring back memories of the past," she said.

The theater's valentine to the community, "Notes of Love" was first developed 20 years ago at the Overlook Dinner Theater at Port Royal with a cast of four. While planning this year's schedule, Dupuis suddenly remembered the revue, which hasn't been produced since. She said she "pulled it out and adapted it to the singers I have now, since some of the music I used originally didn't fit for this cast. I want to make sure everybody looks their best."

This is the fourth revue in the company's history, and Dupuis says the format has been popular with audiences because she makes the shows "move, move, move, as fast as we can."

The show's music comes from many eras, and draws from several musicals, "some from way back when and some as recent as 'Hairspray,' " Dupuis said.

'what is love?'

The story that ties the music together is narrated by a professor, who comments on the kinds of love being portrayed while posing the question, "What is love?" The answer, Dupuis says, involves "the discovery of love, the delight of love, the disillusionment and then the dissolve. We go through the different phases and then we have a section that's called 'Starting Over.' "

The set features a large tilted heart platform which, Dupuis says, breaks in two at the point of romantic "dissolve." At one point, part of the heart is shaped like a bar, replete with stools for a segment in which lines from songs become pickup lines.

The second act is full of "strange, unconventional love songs from Broadway musicals," Dupuis says.

The core cast features Barbara Clark, Desiree Duff, Jennifer Green, Ken Kolbe, Joe Lapchick, Mike Palermo, Adam Simoneaux, Sharon Walters and Beth Woods.

But in addition to the core cast, many guest stars -- cast members of other May River shows -- will appear, including include Bryce Coffield, Jon Krielkamp, Joan Galasso, Gloria Gardner, Kim Marcos, Mike Regal, Dawn Rosa and Dick Tyrrell.