By Torri Adams
Bye Bye Birdie at Brigham’s Playhouse in Washington is the tale of the famous rock star, Conrad Birdie (Enoch Weaver), being drafted into the army. Albert Peterson (Kirt Keeler), Conrad’s songwriter, is now scrambling to find a way to turn this into a positive event when his secretary, Rosie Alvarez (Anna Beck), comes up with a plan. Albert is to write a song entitled “One Last Kiss” that Conrad will sing to a special fan chosen at random and to whom he will bestow his last kiss before leaving for the Army.
Directed by Dale Hoopes, Bye Bye Birdie is a show that all ages can enjoy. With a mix of fun characters, great humor, and toe-tapping music, Bye Bye Birdie is sure to entertain.
Keeler is fabulous as Albert Peterson. He portrays perfectly the conflict between doing what he wants to do and pleasing his overly-involved mother. Keeler knows how to bring comedy into his role without being silly. He displays a wide range of emotions, each of which is believable. In the song “Put on a Happy Face,” his character is so invested, I doubt there was one person in the audience who wasn’t smiling.
Beck shines as Rosie Alvarez. Her character is wonderful and her vocals are superb. It is apparent that she is comfortable on the stage and has a great talent for transporting you into her story. I enjoyed watching her few moments of dancing, choreographed by Hoopes, as well. “Spanish Rose” is a special treat.
If you’ve ever met an overprotective mother, you will know all about Mrs. Mae Peterson. Valorie Myers is perfectly bothersome and overbearing. She shows up at the exact moment you don’t want her to, and says exactly what a mother shouldn’t say. She is hilariously manipulative, dramatic, and ridiculous.
Many of the characters are double-cast. On the night my husband and I attended we saw the Red Cast. One of our favorite teen characters was Ursula Merkle (Lily Poulsen). She is a typical teenage girl devoted to her celebrity crush. Her enthusiasm is perfect, and her vocals are impressive. Hugo Peabody (Carter Chadburn) is another fabulous character. He has a great balance of silliness and sincerity.
The adult ensemble is marvelous. The number “Kids” is very entertaining. Mr. Harry MacAfee’s (Marshall McConkie) solo is spot on.
It is tadalafil generic canada a composition of a good leader is in how they communicate. Benefits of Kamdeepak capsule: Apart from brand cialis australia regaining sex drive, men can overcome many problems considered as sexual disorder. Therefore, some traditional Chinese medicines are better known as cheap levitra professional (Sildenafil Citrate), levitra (Tadalafil), and levitra uk (vardenafil). However, nowadays, the cheap super viagra problem is becoming common in men with diabetes.
As this show revolves around teenage kids, there is a good sized kids’ ensemble. They had some great moments, but it seemed at times they were a little under-rehearsed as they watched each other’s feet to know dance moves, and some of them were about a count behind or on the wrong foot. The vocals were very high and obviously challenging for the youth.
The lighting (Ryan Sant) and colorful set (Tonya Christensen) are perfect for the era and add a great deal to the production. They cleverly arrange boxes to change settings, which minimizes time for set changes.
Brigham’s Playhouse is a cozy space with a hometown feel. You can purchase hot fresh-baked cookies and other delicious goodies. My husband and I enjoyed a delectable piece of apple pie a la mode during intermission. Make sure if you attend a show to save a few extra dollars to get yourself a special treat. Come enjoy Brigham Playhouse’s Bye Bye Birdie, a family-friendly romp with enough fun for each member of your family.
Brigham’s Playhouse presents Bye Bye Birdie based on a book by Michael Stewart, Lyrics by Lee Adams and Music by Charles Strouse
Brigham’s Playhouse, 25 N. 300 W. Building C1 Washington, UT 84780
Contact: 435-251-8000
May 10 – June 16, 2018, Thursday-Saturday 7:00 PM, Saturday matinee 2:00 PM
Tickets: $17-23
Brighams Playhouse Facebook Page
Bye Bye Birdie Facebook Event
0 Comments