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A foolishly wonderful spring evening
By Cynthia B. Coleman • Staff writer
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| Margo Oxendine (l) and Michael Sharp (r) belt out "Easy Street" from the musical "Annie," as they danced across the stage. (Recorder photos by Cynthia B. Coleman) |
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The auditorium was dark, lit only by an image projected on the east wall near the stage, an image of white, yellow and green, a likeness of the evening's program, "It Might As Well Be Spring … Follies." When the doors opened, the audience filed in with hushed excitement, filling in 150 seats at the 3 p.m. show and 250 at 7 p.m., last Saturday, April 19.
Once everyone was seated music swelled throughout the Bath County High School auditorium before the curtains opened to reveal a stark but lovely setting of a miniature view of New York City's Broadway, with the names of famous musicals in bright lights. Standing in front of the sets was the cast of the follies, the Mountain Valley Players.
The opening number was appropriate, "Hey Look Me Over," from the musical "Wildcat," which included the whole ensemble. The players were dressed in costumes of black pants and long sleeve, black t-shirts with their logo over the left breast and the name of the players written down the right sleeve - a simple but suitable costume for all ages of the cast.
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| The girls love their guy even as their hearts break as they sing "Freddy My Love" from the musical Grease. Pictured (l-r) are: Sara Hall, Sage Tanguay, Laura Schneider and Sarah Wright. |
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During certain numbers, such as the second one from the musical "Annie," soloists performed in other costumes. Emily Black, who played Annie and sang "Tomorrow," wore a red dress much as her character did in both the comic strip, the play and the movie. Black's young, strong voice rang out with conviction as the rest of the ensemble joined in the chorus.
In another number from "Annie," Margo Oxendine and follies' director Michael Sharp sang the duet, "Easy Street," and appropriately hammed it up as the parts and song called for. Both Oxendine and Sharp have true Broadway voices. Their two-step dance, performed as they sang, was also a delight and well done.
Teens ruled in the next performance from the musical, "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown," as Graham Kershner, Sage Tanguay, Parke Kershner, Jamin Good and Tyler Ryder played out both a scene and sang "Team/Baseball Game."
From "Flower Drum Song," a small group of women sang "I Enjoy Being A Girl," with different singers taking lead at various parts. Those who sang in this number were Jane Bogan, Juanita Sharp, Betty Cauley, Jane Wright, Debbie Ryder, Margo Oxendine, Lori Witschey, Terry Flaherty, Selena Lacks and Claudia McAllister. The song was fun and playful as the women acted out the joys of being a girl with various props such as feather boas and twirling umbrellas.
From the eternal teen favorite "Grease," came with two songs, "Freddy My Love" and "Hopelessly Devoted To You." In the first song, Sara Hall, Sarah Wright, Sage Tanguay and Laura Schneider sang with all their natural angst of being in love with a special young man, each taking turn with a solo part. Rachel Camacho sat in the dark with a sole spotlight turned on her as she sang and shone in her pink poodle skirt, singing, "Hopelessly Devoted To You."
For the young people who performed in the Ed Sullivan television skit, Sullivan is a dim memory for many of their parents, but this did not stop them from cracking the audience's funny bone as they acted out to a song about the show and its many crazy skits. Participating in all bright mayhem were Sarah Wright, Sage Tanguay, Graham Kershner, Selena Lacks, Andrew Vinson, Gentry Kershner, Lori Witschey, Dave Huff, Jamin Good, Tyler Ryder, Rachel Camacho and Parke Kershner.
Jullieth Moncada, dressed as a Spanish dancer, sang "Ni Se Compra Ni Se Vende," as part of the Sullivan segment. Moncada sang the Spanish song with good expression and with Latin fire. When the song ended, Moncada joined with the dancers behind her to reprise the "Paso Doble" seen at the recent high school talent show. Dancing were Brittany Markum, Caitlyn Miller, Jacob Ingram, Ryan Newmarker and Gloria Moncada.
Everything was coming up roses when Oxendine sang the hit song from the musical, "Gypsy." And just as Mama Rose has been portrayed in the past, Oxendine sang with all the passion and aggression the character warranted.
The next song, "Day By Day," sung by Lori Witschey and the ensemble, was introduced as a prayer for clear vision and comes from the musical Godspell, which made its debut in 1971. While the song began as gracefully and soft as a prayer, it soon moved with rhythm as the players clapped in time, encouraging the audience to join in for a rousting bit of fun before settling back down to a prayerful tone.
The audience was not given a chance to bow their heads as the Grand Ole Opry pranced onstage, beginning with a skit that had the whole crowd laughing with tears in their eyes, as players acted out "The Doctor's Office."Taking part in the skit were Parke Kershner, Sarah Wright, Jamin Good, Andrew Vinson, Selena Lacks, Tyler Ryder and Sage Tanguay.
Graham Kershner got to show off his nimble clogging feet during the skit of "Backstage at the Opry," where he played a stage crew given the job of sweeping the stage. Give any stage crew member the opportunity to stand before an audience, they'll take it - any way possible, even with a laugh. Kershner danced his way into the audience's hearts.
One special highlight was the showcasing of Virginia's own, Patsy Cline, reincarnated through the vocal talents of Bitsy Davis, who not only channeled Cline's voice but her hair, dress and mannerisms. Davis sang "Walkin' After Midnight," "I Fall to Pieces" and "Crazy."
Every good folly should end with favorite songs and so did this one with the ensemble singing three songs from "The Sound Of Music." Soloists were Jane Wright on "My Favorite Things," Dave Huff on "Edelweiss" and Betty Cauley on "Climb Every Mountain." Wright and Huff sang beautifully as their songs demanded, but Cauley stirred the audience with her soaring voice as it climbed high with zeal and passion.
No cast does well without strong support and the Mountain Valley Players have such a crew. Director Michael Sharp, who conceived of the follies, used his players well, as he placed them in the songs and skits that best suited their talents. The stage manager Elaine Brown, sound technician Eric Essex and projectionist Janie Camacho all did their jobs as the show played seamlessly without a hitch in music or lighting. Terry Kershner pulled all together as the business manager who took care of the little details that always make a difference, such as the lovely programs.
One cast member said there might be a folly for each season in the coming year. It might as well be.
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