Another stage — Merrill Osmond tackles dramatic role in Hale's 'Civil War'

It's a Monday night. Merrill Osmond has rehearsed for less than a week with the rest of the cast of "The Civil War." But he's doing all right, this veteran performer.

His gravelly voice blends nicely with the other actors' silky tenors. When it comes to negotiating the stage, he's not making many more mistakes than those who have been practicing together for more than a month.

Osmond's sword does clunk on the floor when he sits on his camp stool. But that's understandable. The swords are authentic replicas of those carried in the Civil War, and they are huge. Some of the other actors are also still struggling to get their weapons under control.

Later in the rehearsal, Osmond is late coming in for his duet with the Southern captain. But then, the Southern captain is late as well.

Director Andrew Barrus corrects Osmond and the other actor in exactly the same matter-of-fact tone. When corrected, Osmond doesn't waste time talking, he just heads back up the stairs and enters again. This time, he's on cue.

Sally Dietlin, executive producer at Hale Centre Theatre, says the other actors have been pleasantly surprised by Osmond, by his humility and by how hard he works. "There's no attitude with him," she says.

As for Osmond, he's impressed with the professionalism he's found at Hale. He mentions the singing, the acting. "And the choreography is the best I've seen."

The stage is in five sections, and it seems at least one section is submerged at any given time. A fall would be disastrous, Osmond realizes.

Still, "I don't think I've ever had more fun," he said. "I've always wanted to do this play."

His famous brother, Donny, became identified with "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," he points out. His famous sister Marie just made her mark on "Dancing With the Stars."

Merrill Osmond admits he would not mind being identified with this musical, "The Civil War." Osmond loves history, and he thinks Frank Wildhorn's script and songs are incredibly important just now, as our nation once again finds itself in a long war. He says he's seen at least one person cry during every rehearsal he's attended.

Osmond sought the role of Capt. Emmett Lochran. He and Dietlin agree that's the way it happened. Osmond talked to his friend Larry Gatlin, of the Gatlin Brothers, who was playing Lochran in a national touring production. Gatlin told him the musical was being performed in Utah later in the year. Osmond asked his agent to call Hale Centre.