Driftwood greets original ‘Birdie’

Elvis has been drafted!

Big deal.

But it was in 1958 when The King traded in his blue suede shoes for Army fatigues. This was the post-war America of rock ‘n’ roll and the birth of the “teenage generation,” and one Broadway musical captured the verve and freshness of that era.

“Bye Bye Birdie,” which premiered in 1960, used the real-life drafting of Elvis as a springboard for a bouncy musical full of great songs and dance routines.

Rock ‘n’ roll star Conrad Birdie is drafted into the Army. But before he goes, his agent cooks up a publicity stunt on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in which one lucky teen – Kim MacAfee of Sweet Apple, Ohio, gets to give him a farewell kiss.

Many people know the show from the 1963 movie, a version that altered the story somewhat but kept the memorable score, which included such songs as “Put On a Happy Face,” “Kids,” “A Lot of Living’ To Do” and “One Boy.”

In fact, there are several versions of the musical out, but the director of the Driftwood Players’ production is sticking with the original.

Bryce Britten, a veteran stage director whose credits include shows for the Driftwood Players and Village Theatre, among others, has done several versions of “Bye Bye Birdie,” including a youth production at the Village Theatre in Edmonds, but this is his first with a mostly adult cast.

The show, which opens tonight at the Wade James Theatre in downtown Edmonds, features a cast of 27, with music direction by Chris Fresolone and choreography by Joel Rene.

It’s a “happy, snappy show,” according to Britten, but there is a darker side to all that sunshine and some adult humor in the original, and Britten is enjoying the challenge of bringing that out. The musical poked fun at the mania of rock ‘n’ roll and teen culture, and about family life circa 1950s.

Not everyone here is apple-pie sweet: Conrad Birdie, the side-burned rock star, is no perfect gentlemen and the domineering Mama Peterson is the overbearing mother from hell.

Britten, an Everett resident, did some research on the original production, which was in the works for years before it made it to Broadway.

The period was a time of youth and innocence, Britten said, “when a kiss on the hand was a big deal.” But the writers were not too sure about the music. “They thought rock ‘n’ roll was just a fad.”

They were wrong about that, but right that America would embrace “Bye, Bye Birdie.”

“It has the spark of a great Broadway show,” Britten said. “It’s a big show with a great cast and really beautiful music.”

“It’s a Wonderful Life”: F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said, “There are no second acts in American lives.”

But at least one American – George Bailey of “It’s a Wonderful Life” – proved him wrong.

George is the star of Frank Capra’s film classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the beloved everyman from Bedford Falls whose dark night of the soul comes on Christmas Eve, but who is saved by a guardian angel named Clarence Oddbody who gives him a second chance.

“It’s a Wonderful Life,” as much a holiday tradition as Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” is the holiday production of the Everett Theatre Society, opening tonight at the Everett Theatre with weekend performances through Dec. 12.

Tom Cook directs this stage adaptation of the movie, written by James W. Rodgers. The cast of 21 includes veteran actor Gregg Hays, who portrays Clarence, the “angel second-class,” who comes to the rescue.

“When you’re playing an angel, it’s a lot of fun to stray a bit,” said Hays, who figures Clarence is, in earth years, about 150 years old. He departed earth about Civil War times, and heads to heaven with a fresh copy of “Tom Sawyer” in his hands.

Clarence is an angel, but one without wings. Along comes George Bailey, a building-and-loan manager awash in despair on Christmas Eve and poised to jump off a bridge, and Clarence finds an opportunity to prove his heavenly worth.

“Clarence is more than happy to step in,” Hays said. “If he succeeds (in saving George) he is going to win his wings.”

This angel has a neat trick. He lets good-guy George see what life in Bedford Falls would have been like if he had never been born: a nightmare, it turns out, with even the name of the town changed to Pottersville after the greedy Mr. Potter.

“OK, fine, you have never been born, and this is what’s happened,” is how Hays sums it all up. “He forces George to re-examine his life.”

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is “almost a tragedy but veers away from that point at the last moment,” Hays said.

Thanks to Clarence, there is a second act for George Bailey, who learns that, despite his problems, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

“The Secret Garden”: Seattle Children’s Theatre celebrates the season with a stage production of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s children’s classic opening tonight.

Published in 1910, “The Secret Garden” is the story of 10-year-old Mary Lennox, orphaned by cholera in India, who regains her health and trust through nurturing a rundown garden on the Yorkshire moors.

With care, the secret garden blooms as does Mary’s own emotional health. Her healing parallels that of the others in the household, including her uncle’s invalid son, Colin.

This production is a U.S. premiere by Canadian playwrights Paula Wing and Michael Shamata, is directed by Rita Giomi, and plays through Jan. 8 in the Charlotte Martin Theatre.

“The Pirates of Penzance”: The dramatic and musical wonders of Gilbert &Sullivan take centerstage at Arlington High School this weekend in a student production of the popular operetta.

The students have had the added challenge of pulling off a complex show in a makeshift theater space: the school commons at Arlington’s new high school. The performing arts space remains unfinished and the old Arlington High School auditorium isn’t up to snuff, said drama teacher Irene Simpson, who directs the show.

“Our challenge this year is to maintain our reputation of quality performances while we are waiting for the completion of the Performing Arts Center,” she said.

” ‘Pirates’ is so intricately staged … and the staging is wonderful for what we have,” she said. “The kids are very passionate about this piece. We are giving it everything we have.”

Rob Kessler photos

Conrad Birdie’s planned visit to Sweet Apple, Ohio, affects the young women in the Driftwood Players’ production of “Bye Bye Birdie.”

Eli J. Medellin photo

Bob Rapp as George Bailey and Gregg Hays as Clarence Oddbody in Everett Theatre Society’s production of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Chris Bennion photo

Sharia Pierce as Mary Lennox in Seattle Children Theatre’s “The Secret Garden.”

Where to see it

“Bye Bye Birdie”: A Driftwood Players production tonight through Dec. 19 at the Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds. Performances at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets, $17-$20, at the box office, 425-774-9600, www.driftwoodplayers.com.

“It’s a Wonderful Life”: An Everett Theatre Society production tonight through Dec. 12 at the Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets, $7-$14 at the box office, 425-258-6766, www.everetttheatre.org.

“The Secret Garden”: A Seattle Children’s Theatre production tonight through Jan. 8 at the Charlotte Martin Theatre, Seattle Center. Performances at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 and 5:30 p.m. Sundays. Recommended for ages 8 and older. Tickets, $14-$28, 206-441-3322, www.sct.org.

“Pirates of Penzance”: 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Arlington High School Commons, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd., Arlington. Tickets $5 at the door.

Where to see it

“Pirates of Penzance”: 7 p.m. today and Saturday at Arlington High School Commons, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd., Arlington. Tickets $5 at the door.