![thelife1[1]](http://stagepartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/thelife11-300x214.jpg)
Patrick Sutton and Kellianne Quirk in THE LIFE at Wilmington Drama League through October 1.
Sharon Brown Ruegsegger is both an excellent singer and actor in this demanding role. Her sweet soprano is well suited for the jazzy/bluesy score. She has just the right combination of heartbreak and hope in her performance. We hope she’ll escape the devastating violence of the streets. Fleetwood is the kind of low-life who brings everyone around him down. Cannon is a fine singer and fleshes out this slimy character.
Musical Director Matt Casarino’s band is sassy and hip, supporting the actors and bringing the score to life. Despite the gloomy subject matter, the musical has some biting humor. Rebecca Gallatin plays Sonja, a washed-up prostitute who whips out a calculator to figure out how many Johns she’s had. “15,000 men” she concludes, making sure she doesn’t count the days when she’d visited her mother for Christmas.
![thelife6[1]](http://stagepartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/thelife61-200x300.jpg)
Sharon Brown Ruegsegger and Nick D’Argenio in THE LIFE at Wilmington Drama League.
THE LIFE
Book by David Newman, Ira Gasman and Cy Coleman
Music by Cy Coleman
Lyrics by Ira Gasman
Directed by Tina M. Sheing
Music Direction by Matt Casarino
Choreography by Jody Anderson
September 16-October 1, 2011
Wilmington Drama League
10 West Lea Boulevard
Wilmington, DE 19802
302 764-1172
www.wilmingtondramaleague.org