By Rebekah Weaver
Bye Bye Birdie is one of those classic musicals that I’ve always meant to see, and the Empress Theatre in Magna did not disappoint. I laughed, cheered for the main characters, and celebrated when the selfish characters got what was coming to them — and then I laughed some more.
Bye Bye Birdie has been around since its original Broadway run in 1960. It tells the story of a young rock star, Conrad Birdie (Travis Hymas), getting drafted and the resulting fallout with his fans and the music agency that represents him. The storyline is loosely based on what happened when Elvis Presley was drafted in 1957.
The Empress Theatre is in Magna, just west of Salt Lake City. The theater is on Main Street and isn’t hard to find, and there’s ample street parking on Main Street and the neighborhoods immediately around the theater. My husband and I were running late due to bad road conditions, but we still found a parking spot right away about a block from the theater’s front door, allowing us to slip into our seats right as the show started.
The theater has stood in Magna since 1916, though the interior was renovated and reopened in 2006. I really enjoyed the classic, cozy feel of this small venue, which allows you to get up close to the action onstage. However, since the theater is older and smaller, those who need accommodations for disabilities may need to communicate with the staff in advance.
Though Bye Bye Birdie is about what happens when Conrad Birdie gets drafted, most of the action focuses on his agent, Albert Peterson (Chris Kennedy), and the agent’s secretary, Rose Alvarez (Lindsey Woodward), who are sweethearts with a complicated relationship. Kennedy has a sweet, mellow, precise voice that works perfectly with his nervous character.
However, Woodward was easily my favorite part of the show. She delivers a down-to-earth Rose Alvarez packed to the brim with confidence, smarts, and self-assurance. Her Rose always looks like she knows what she wants and is determined to make it happen. One of her big solos, “Spanish Rose,” is the funniest moment of a very funny play.
Hymas adeptly plays a bumbling Conrad Birdie who looks thoroughly lost most of the time — until it’s time to sing. Hymas just graduated from high school, but his voice is strong with a surprising amount of depth. I enjoyed how Conrad seems like a dazed kid most of the time but transforms into a swaggering star whenever music starts playing.
His counterpart, Kim MacAfee (Alisha Green), is a normal 15-year-old girl that the music agency picked at random. Conrad is supposed to kiss her as a publicity stunt before he leaves for the army — his one last kiss. Green gives an earnest, eager portrayal with lovely vocals, and I rooted for her the whole play.
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The supporting cast is very large and included children and adults of all ages from the community. I enjoyed seeing many of these cast members get moments in the spotlight, like the Sad Girls (Ireland Walker and Anaïs Farnsworth). However, the standout supporting cast member is definitely Albert Peterson’s mother, Mae Peterson (Diane Nebeker), who plays a hilariously manipulative mother determined to keep her son away from Rose. She is as close to a villain as this story has, and though I cheered her failure, I was always sad to see her leave the stage.
In short, I’d like to thank director Andrea K. Fife, the cast, and the rest of the all-volunteer staff at the Empress Theatre for such a good time. I was thoroughly impressed by the energy and joy put into this local production of a classic musical. If you go, and you should, bring your whole family — you won’t regret spending your evening here.
The Empress Theatre Presents Bye Bye Birdie by Michael Stewart
The Empress Theatre, 9104 W 2700 S, Magna, UT 84044
February 24-March 10 7:30 PM
Tickets: $10–12
Contact: 801-347-7373
The Empress Theatre Facebook Page
Bye Bye Birdie Facebook Event
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