Chasten Harmon in the Civic Theatre Young Adult Summer Musical ‘Working’

Civic should be commended for going ahead with the program, as well as picking a musical that has not been done within my five years as a critic. In a sea of repeat performances and copy cat seasons, they chose something that, though written in 1978, can seem fresh to Indianapolis audiences.

Working is a musical revue that is based on the book by Studs Terkel, which contained the interviews of 134 working-class people. The musical keeps their words intact, set to music. From truckers, to construction workers, to hookers, to housewives, the wage slaves are represented here in honest portrayals.

This is a beautifully done piece and the large cast of young adults do a great job with it. The stage is reminiscent of Rent — very industrial with the band on stage — and the opening is Stomp-esque — a cacophony of banging trash cans and whatnot — but after that, the musical begins to show its finesse.

The first number, “All the Livelong Day,” gives a generous example of Audra Sokol’s wonderful choreography, which is well-executed by the cast. Each number is more or less a solo; there are many standouts who each have strong, accurate singing voices.

Just a few included Milton Britton Jr. as carparker Al, who shows the audience just how well he can move. Mercedes L. Frierson as a checkout girl is full of fun and joy for living. James Victery performs a beautiful song in Spanish about the migrant worker plight. Hillary Helmling, playing a housewife, has a perfectly pure voice. Erin Cagle should be at the top of the list: As a millworker, she not only has a great voice, but puts so much soul into her piece. John O’Brien as a trucker pulls off a number that takes us back to ’70s rock music. Chasten Harmon as a cleaning lady also creates a very real and emotional character. And Michael Hosp as an ironworker sings an incredibly touching song about wanting more for your children.

Strangely, not all of the cast seemed miked, so some of the words and songs were lost due to lack of volume, but director Ty Stover (Beef & Boards), with musical director Brent E. Marty, crafted a performance that can be enjoyed just as much by the audience as the aspiring thespians who put it on.

Working continues through Aug. 1 at the Madame Walker Theatre Center, 617 Indiana Ave. Call 923-4597.