I was dubious that bringing back Woody Guthrie’s American Song that Stage 3 could equal the success of 2008’s presentation to kick off that year’s season in February. I was wrong. It isn’t often a sequel can match or surpass the original’s success, whether it be a movie or a play. Once we have experienced successful theatre, it seems almost sacrilegious to mess with the original as we remember it.

Stage 3 brings back the original cast and musicians with the exception of one of the cast. Playing their original parts, Jeff Cooper, Hoyt Cory, Richard Sholer, Lillian McLeod and newcomer Amy Perkins pick up right where they left off with this stirring tribute to Woody Guthrie. 

The musicians, Ron Cotnam and Rick Barlow playing bass, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and guitar are the support to the cast who sing, play guitar, and narrate the story of Guthrie to the audience. They bring to life the timeless classics such as “Bound For Glory”, “Worried Man”,” Union Maid”, “Nine Hundred Miles”, “Pastures of Plenty”, and “Deportee”.

Woody Guthrie’s history as a folk singer and balladeer chronicles his humble upbringing in the Southwest during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression era and his growing commitment to the plight of the common man trying to exist during a harsh time in American history. From the Oklahoma farm country, riding the rails west to California, to the New York skid rows, the audience is taken on his journey of discovery where his talent for ballads and music paint a musical picture of the grittier side of life in America in the early half of the 20th century.

To capture the times and people of Guthrie’s day, Cooper, Cory, and Sholer, alternate narration of Guthrie’s thoughts and experiences between numbers that follow, expanding the deep-felt convictions of Guthrie in music and song. The women – McLeod, and Perkins (real-life daughter of McLeod), also narrate some of Guthrie’s thoughts and descriptions of homeless camps, proud but poor people, and hard times.

The small stage set of Stage 3 consisted of a background of leafless trees with branches stretching to the ceiling. I suppose because much of Guthrie’s life was spent on the road, including makeshift shelters, it represents the outdoor arena where Guthrie observed and lived many of his days on the road.

Lighting of the set cannot be omitted for praise. Lighting design by Tommy Johnson and light technician, Matthew Leamy surpass the prior production with lighting that created shadows, and moods fitting of the number being performed to accentuate and capture the spirit of the performers. Truly impressive.

Directed by Don Bilotti, the cast and musicians presented the audience with an emotional journey from humor to heart wrenching feelings. With the concluding number of the first act, “Pastures of Plenty”, the cast left me and I’m sure, other audience members, with a lump in our throats and a little misty eyed with the power of the words delivered flawlessly and heartfelt. The second act continued with the songs of Guthrie’s later years, before he contracted Huntington’s disease, cutting his life short in 1967. The concluding number sung by the cast, “This Land Is Your Land”, was perhaps the best known and loved song and a fitting final tribute to the man and his contribution to American Folk Music and performed before an energized audience that stood and applauded for it, and a very satisfying and moving production.

For anyone who appreciates the power of words put to timeless music, especially this venue, for anyone who wishes to remember some of American history or learn for the first time about an era that Guthrie captured in song, this is the opportunity to do so. I just don’t know how Stage 3 might surpass this production should they attempt to bring it back in the future. I suggest you see this gem while you have the chance.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (depict 5 stars here)

“Woody Guthrie’s American Song” will run at Stage 3, 208 S. Green St. in downtown Sonora, through December 20. The show will run Thursday through Sunday. Curtain times are 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Ticket prices are $18 Thursday, $20 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Senior Sundays are $18. Students always $12. Call 209?536?1778 or visit www.stage3.org for reservations and information.