Theater Review, Chico Enterprise Record, May 22, 2008
'Bye Bye Birdie' encourages audience to 'put on a happy face'By Verda Mackay - The Buzz
Conrad Birdie, played by Oscar Magana (left), dances in front of Christina Goddard (center) and Megan Johnson (right) during a rehearsal for "Bye Bye Birdie" at the Chico Theater Company on May 13. (Jason Halley/Staff Photo)The Tony Award-winning musical, "Bye Bye Birdie," opened last week at the Chico Theater Company, making a considerable splash in the bright lights of Chico's theater scene.
Give credit for the success of this production to director and choreographer Joe Garrow and music director Dara Shultz. Plus, kudos to a dynamic cast full of youthful energy and talent.
"Bye Bye Birdie," with the book written by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams and music by Charles Strouse, opened on Broadway in 1960.
It is a perfect example of 1960s lifestyles and the problems with raising teenagers.
The costuming depicted an era when teenage girls wore full-skirt dresses and boys sported jeans and plaid shirts.
With two-acts and an abundance of great songs and dances, "Bye Bye Birdie" tells the story of teenage infatuation with rock star Conrad Birdie (Oscar Magana, Jr.).
Birdie's agent, Albert Peterson (Joey Bartlett), finds himself in trouble when his star is drafted into the army.
Rosie, played by Joanna Coen (left), gives her resignation to Albert, played by Joey Bartlett, during a rehearsal for "Bye Bye Birdie" at the Chico Theater Company on May 13.(Jason Halley/Staff Photo)
Albert's secretary and main squeeze, Rosie Alvarez (Joanna Coen), arranges a publicity stunt. The plan is to have Conrad Birdie give "one last kiss" to a lucky girl from his fan clubs on The Ed Sullivan TV show.
The chosen girl is 15-year-old Kim MacAfee (Megan Mitchell) from Sweet Apple, Ohio.
But things don't go as planned when Kim's boyfriend, Hugo Peabody (Daniel Tuccillo), becomes jealous of Conrad.
Meanwhile, Albert's domineering mother, Mae Peterson (Pam Thornton-Singer), comes to break up his romance with Rosie by introducing him to the sexy Gloria Rasputin (Jennifer Harmston). Later, Conrad turns out to be a swaggering jerk who tries to teach the kids how to "party."
Kim's parents, Harry MacAfee (Marc Edson) and wife, Doris (Jessica Drake), try to hold family values together. Kim's little brother, Randolph (Ryan Johns), is as starstruck as his sister.
Memorable songs in "Bye Bye Birdie" include "Put On a Happy Face," "Kids!" and "A Lot of Living to Do."
The musical was an overall pleasure with some special scenes. Edson as the agitated father gave a lively performance singing, "What's the matter with kids today? Why can't they be like we were, perfect in every way?"
Coen's lovely voice did justice to the provocative song "Spanish Rose." Thornton-Singer, as Mamma Peterson, brought down the house with her rendition of "A Mamma Doesn't Matter Anymore."
Conrad Birdie, played by Oscar Magana (left), dances in front of (left to right) Rosie (Joanna Coen), Albert (Joey Bartlett), the mayor (Russ Van Patten) and the mayor's wife (Fabiola Ashby) during a rehearsal for "Bye Bye Birdie" at the Chico Theater Company on May 13. (Jason Halley/Staff Photo)
As Elvis-like rock 'n' roll singer Birdie, Magana had a surprise when he performed his first song. An unbuckled belt and loose pants almost caused a costume malfunction.
The only disappointment in this family-friendly show is that it ended too soon.
The show runs through June 21 with shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Matinees are at 2 p.m. the first three Sundays in June. For tickets, call 894-3282.
Albert's secretary and main squeeze, Rosie Alvarez (Joanna Coen), arranges a publicity stunt. The plan is to have Conrad Birdie give "one last kiss" to a lucky girl from his fan clubs on The Ed Sullivan TV show.
The chosen girl is 15-year-old Kim MacAfee (Megan Mitchell) from Sweet Apple, Ohio.
But things don't go as planned when Kim's boyfriend, Hugo Peabody (Daniel Tuccillo), becomes jealous of Conrad.
Meanwhile, Albert's domineering mother, Mae Peterson (Pam Thornton-Singer), comes to break up his romance with Rosie by introducing him to the sexy Gloria Rasputin (Jennifer Harmston). Later, Conrad turns out to be a swaggering jerk who tries to teach the kids how to "party."
Kim's parents, Harry MacAfee (Marc Edson) and wife, Doris (Jessica Drake), try to hold family values together. Kim's little brother, Randolph (Ryan Johns), is as starstruck as his sister.
Memorable songs in "Bye Bye Birdie" include "Put On a Happy Face," "Kids!" and "A Lot of Living to Do."
The musical was an overall pleasure with some special scenes. Edson as the agitated father gave a lively performance singing, "What's the matter with kids today? Why can't they be like we were, perfect in every way?"
Coen's lovely voice did justice to the provocative song "Spanish Rose." Thornton-Singer, as Mamma Peterson, brought down the house with her rendition of "A Mamma Doesn't Matter Anymore."
Conrad Birdie, played by Oscar Magana (left), dances in front of (left to right) Rosie (Joanna Coen), Albert (Joey Bartlett), the mayor (Russ Van Patten) and the mayor's wife (Fabiola Ashby) during a rehearsal for "Bye Bye Birdie" at the Chico Theater Company on May 13. (Jason Halley/Staff Photo)
As Elvis-like rock 'n' roll singer Birdie, Magana had a surprise when he performed his first song. An unbuckled belt and loose pants almost caused a costume malfunction.
The only disappointment in this family-friendly show is that it ended too soon.
The show runs through June 21 with shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Matinees are at 2 p.m. the first three Sundays in June. For tickets, call 894-3282.
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