You’ll want to say hello to ‘Birdie’
Published 9:00 pm Thursday, December 2, 2004
EDMONDS – The Driftwood Players are transporting us back in time to the 1950s with their current production, “Bye Bye Birdie.”
The stage is set as soon as you see four teenage girls in their dirndl skirts and pedal pushers. Harmonizing beautifully, there are hints of other musicals of a similar time -“Grease” and “West Side Story” – as they sing.
The show flows very well considering there are eight scene changes in Act 1 and Act 2. We go from New York City to Sweet Apple, Ohio, without a hitch.
One of early scenes depicts all the girls in Sweet Apple on the phone to each other. That they don’t end up in a tangled knot of phone lines speaks to the wonderful choreography.
In the story, loosely based on Elvis Presley entering the service, heartthrob Conrad Birdie is the focus of the girls’ attention: Vivacious and squealing, the girls are excited that Conrad is coming to Sweet Apple to kiss an ordinary girl one last time as a civilian before being drafted. The lucky girl is Kim MacAfee. Kim’s steady boyfriend, Hugo (Chris Sullivan), is less than thrilled.
Kim, played by Kere Loughlin-Presnel, is just a normal kid growing up in a small town in Ohio. Loughlin-Presnel is excellent at portraying a tomboy in sweats in one scene then a young woman in a dress in the other. And what a beautiful voice she has.
Conrad appears on stage shielded by his bodyguards surrounded by his adoring fans. Finally, the young man is revealed wearing tight black jeans, a shirt unbuttoned to the waist and a black sequined jacket. He gyrates, shakes and quivers as he sings “Honestly Sincere,” and it’s very entertaining.
Adam Othman is amusing as Conrad’s agent, Albert Peterson, who lacks get-up-and-go and relies heavily on his assistant, Rosie, to deal with the everyday workings of his business.
Albert’s mother, Mrs. Mae Peterson, influences Albert’s decisions in all aspects of his life. Jay Irwin is hilarious as Albert’s overbearing mother; somewhat reminiscent of vaudeville, she has to be the center of attention wherever she goes. One cannot help but notice her.
She tries to fix Albert up with Trisha Chapman’s character, Gloria Rasputin, a vamp who wants to get into show business. Gloria’s only trouble was that she couldn’t dance or sing. It must have been hard to be clumsy and awkward, but Chapman does a great job of unlearning her talents.
Lisa Branham is dynamic as Rosie; her eyes are very expressive. Branham’s talents are apparent throughout the show, but she really wows ‘em in a scene in the back room at Maude’s Roadside Retreat.
The MacAfee family is adorable – Mom, Dad, Kim and Randolph. Julie Drummond is enchanting as Mrs. MacAfee, hilariously batting her eyelashes and looking adoringly at her family.
Dad is gruff and oblivious to what’s going on until he realizes they’re going to be guests on the Ed Sullivan show. Kim’s much younger brother, Randolph, is ignored throughout the show until in Act 2 he performs a song and dance routine you can’t ignore: Johnny Domingo’s performance is wonderful.
Ed Sullivan appears on our left, and the audience sees just his back, the stance, the cigarette and hears the voice: It’s unmistakably Ed Sullivan, and very effective.
The show is full of energy and zest, and takes you happily back to simpler times.
Review
“Bye Bye Birdie”: Driftwood Players presentation through Dec. 19. Wade James Playhouse, 950 Main St., Edmonds; 425-774-9600, www.driftwoodplayers.com.
Review
“Bye Bye Birdie”: Driftwood Players presentation through Dec. 19. Wade James Playhouse, 950 Main St., Edmonds; 425-774-9600, www.driftwoodplayers.com.
