'Bye Bye Birdie' something to sing about
Delightful choreography and some stand out performances give the Butler Summer Dramatics show “Bye Bye Birdie” reason to sing.
The production runs Thursday through Sunday at the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College.
Under the direction of Gordon Cavalero, AnnMarie Lowerre was expertly cast in the role of Rosie Alvarez, netting a choreographer in the deal.
The show features high kicks and high notes both of which are delivered by Lowerre. Portraying the saucy Spanish Rose, Lowerre had the goods in “Shriners Ballet” where she wooed and wowed them with her shimmies and shakes.
Longing for married life, Rosie pines away for a quiet life with her Albert Peterson played by Zane Gagliardi.
Gagliardi rocked the role of Peterson in “Put on a Happy Face” where he nailed the choreography, complete with some tap moves, with ease and channeled his inner Dick Van Dyke, who played the role in the 1963 film. His chemistry with Rosie was most striking at the conclusion in the final number, “Rosie”
While some of the jokes are dated, comedy is still found in some of the characters especially Mrs. Mae Peterson played by Rania Rashid. Her guilty martyr mother shtick was on point. She was hilarious at every turn and kept the audience on their toes. Her sassy attitude with Rosie was believable.
Waylon O'Donnell did an admirable job in the role of Conrad Birdie. His “Honestly Sincere” was an energetic and swoon worthy performance. While his chemistry with Kim MacAfee was a bit stilted at this rehearsal, his stage presence and confidence were credible. His vocals and gyrations were appropriate for the role.
MacAfee was played by the talented Tishy Hornsby whose vocals soared to commendable heights. Her perky disposition was compelling, and as the show goes on, her comfort with the stage will become even more solid.
Her parents played by Dori Shearer and Jarrod Hull were amusing as they tried to deal with the changing times. Their “Kids” was a timeless offering as parents lament the unexpected behavior of their charges.
Several other supporting roles make “Bye Bye Birdie” a decent revival of a winsome classic.
The sets are complex and vast but wonderfully impactful, and the costumes reflect the styles of the period.
The show also features five sets of siblings in the cast: Alex and Noah Collins, Alano and Amara DiCerbo, Rose and Tishy Hornsby, Rafe and Waylon O'Donnell, and Dori and Sadie Shearer.
The show is co-produced by Kathy Campbell and Jeanne Spafford, with Debbe Picerno as musical director and Tyler Snodgrass as orchestra director.
The production is an amusing light-hearted glimpse into the culture of the 1950s.
WHO: Butler Summer DramaticsWHAT: “Bye Bye Birdie”WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. SundayWHERE: Succop Theater at Butler County Community CollegeTICKETS: $15 for premium center seats and $12 for seating in side sections, available at May's Music Shoppe. All seats are reserved.
