Bye Bye, Bye Bye Birdie!!

Well, it's come at last. At last it's come. The day I new would come at last has come at last!

If you don't know what I'm talking about then you didn't see the show. And why not? It was a freaking awesome show!!!!! Awesome!! Today's the last day! It's not too late...Say hello to 'Bye Bye Birdie'

Here's what the Fla Today Newspaper Reviewer thought:

BY BREUSE HICKMAN FOR FLORIDA TODAY
Unlike the '70s musical "Grease" which points a satirical finger at how a generation would like to remember the '50s, "Bye Bye Birdie" hasn't aged well. It probably was dated when it debuted on Broadway in 1960 with its condescending reaction to the kids of the day and their rock 'n' roll music.
Still, it's apparent why the Tony Award-winning show has legs. Though the musical score by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams gets away with merely hinting at the beat of the '50s, it does manage a few timeless hooks guaranteed to have you humming along, particularly on "Kids," "A Lot of Living to Do" and "Put on A Happy Face."
It's no wonder that since the '70s, "Birdie" has provided a lightweight vehicle for young, eager performers that has kept it a staple of high school theater departments.
That said, the Henegar Center offers a high-spirited production that accurately showcases the generation gap by casting young people as teenagers and older folks as their parents. And because the show is being staged in Brevard County, the story's setting rarely seems anachronistic.
Director JoAnne Mitchell keeps the pace zippy and fun, so it doesn't matter if dated references to "The Shadow" or former Time magazine publisher Henry Luce are lost on parts of the audience -- much less on the majority of performers who weren't even born when the show premiered.
What story there is focuses on Albert Peterson, played with just the right amount of nebbish charm by Rob Landers, (a FLORIDA TODAY page designer). His dream is to become an English teacher. His secretary Rose Alvarez, played by the stunning Rachel Melinda Wyce, also has a dream, one that's typical of women in '50s musicals: to get married. For many longsuffering years, she has pined for Albert, who manages rock 'n' roll star Conrad Birdie.
Landers and Wyce have wonderful singing voices that lend to their chemistry throughout the show. Of course we know how they are going to end up.
Just like Elvis, Conrad -- played by Danny Ahern, who mixes lovable dumbness with plenty of teen idol charisma -- has been drafted into the Army, possibly spelling the end of his career, not to mention Albert's. Rose gets a bright idea for Conrad to randomly choose a fan and give her a goodbye kiss on live television just before he leaves, meaning Conrad and Albert can feed off the publicity.
The chosen one is Kim Mac-Afee (Rachel Schur) of Sweet Apple, Ohio. That takes us to the MacAfee home, giving us a view of one of the show's best and most elaborate sets designed by Jerry Brees.
As tradition dictates, "The Telephone Hour" places the teenagers in a Dalian, Hollywood Squares-like set piece. The number is fun to watch, though the tricky, higher notes were unfortunately out of range for the young voices, making it the weakest number in the show.
Terrence Girard earns the most laughs as Kim's hammy, put-upon father.
As his son and Kim's brother, the diminutive Joey Swift is a delight.
Brees has kept the choreography busy but simple. Rose seduces her Shriners into giving a hilarious under-the-table dance sequence, though it would have been more effective had the set been brought downstage.
Certainly, this "Birdie" succeeds at showing off its youthful talent. But the adults also fare well. Chandler McCree, who appeared in "A Flea in Her Ear," and Bob Barone always are a joy to watch even in smaller roles.
Conductor Robin Ryon's pit orchestra was in fine form, though occasionally it drowned out some of the weaker voices.
The Henegar's latest effort is a fun family show that should energize anyone's evening.
Contact Hickman at 242-3789 or bhickman@flatoday.net

Ok, i'll stop pestering you to see it now.

So it's almost over. We had a really great run. We almost sold out every night! I want to do the next show but I think I'm only allotted one show per year since I work at the theatre so I guess I'll have to quit just so I can keep doing shows there ;)

On the upside, we are going to have a really sweet cast party to finish out the show! I made these cream cheese-filled crescent rolls to bring. They're really yummy!

Ok, I must get ready now. I have to peel the glue off of my fake eyelashes, wash my tights, take a shower, etc., etc., etc.