"The Marvelous Wonderettes" - by Roger Bean - Square One Players (Shrewsbury, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of Roger Bean's "THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES" presented by Square One Players in Shrewsbury, MA. through August 11, 2024. Photo Courtesy of Joanne Smith)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“So the Crab Cakes got cancelled, Mr. Lee called Missy's mom, who called my mom, who called everybody else's mom, and here we are.”
- ("Suzy") / Roger Bean
Square One Players
Presents the Musical
"THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES"
Written by Roger Bean
Directed by Jeremy Woloski
Music Director Lisa Utzig
Choreographer Kelley Manson
Cast Includes: Kait Eckstrom-Doig as "Missy," Stephanie Sarkisian as "Betty Jean," Meg Masciangioli as "Suzy," Amanda Lanza as "Cindy Lou"
Additional Creative Team:Stage Manager - Brigid Keaney; Production Manager - Joanne Smith; Assistant Production Manager - Tara Alano; Costumes - Angela Foley
Performances:
August 3, 2024 through August 11, 2024
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Flanagan Theater, Southgate at Shrewsbury, 30 Julio Drive, Shrewsbury MA.
TICKETS:
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COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
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Time, to travel in the “wayback machine” once more as Square One Players presents delightful musical revue, "THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES."
Written and created by Roger Bean, "THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES" opened off-Broadway in September 2008, at the Westside Theatre in New York.
Now, sixteen years later, this quirky early pop-music jukebox revue showcase has become a favorite staged by many regional and community theatres, spawning several sequels, as well.
Directed by Jeremy Woloski. with music direction by Lisa Utzig and choreography by Kelley Manson, the show brings us back to a much simpler time that led into a tumultuous era when a generation of young Americans sought to break free from early traditional roles.
By the time we get to the second act of "THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES," four former classmates attempt to recapture the musical spirit that, to them, epitomized their Class of 1958 prom at the fictitious “Springfield High School.”
We first meet them during the show’s first act. This quickly thrown together foursome from the “trophy-winning Springfield High School Song Leaders” only became "THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES" when the previously booked glee club (aka the “Crooning Crab Cakes”) couldn’t attend (remember, never get caught smoking in school).
So the Class of ’58 is entertained by these four young singers at their prom, with voices as bouncy as their hairstyles and gowns.
The girls are all best friends, and they are all on the school’s cheer team together.
However, they are also extremely competitive with one another and each tries to enjoy their own moment in the spotlight.
Thanks to one of their teachers who has arranged for them to perform at the prom, we are subsequently entertained to a variety of classic hits such as “Mr. Sandman,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid” and “Goodnight, Sweetheart.”
Throughout the musical revue's thinly veiled plot, we learn about their individual lives, their struggles and their friendships as they perform some classic tunes from the 50s and 60s.
The vivid costumes alone deserve high praise, as do the props, all perfectly color-coordinated to match the foursome on stage.
The sing set design features two props table on either side of the stage, allowing for the most minimal of changes.
The only real set changes that occur are between acts when a decade has passed.
Credit to the entire creative team for making the stage clearly distinguished from the late 50s to late 60s eras.
Also much praise to the fine "WONDERETTES" band with music director Lisa Utzig on piano.
In "WONDERETTES" we are introduced to Suzy Simpson (Meg Masciangioli), a simple girl, a bit naive but with a heart of gold.
A charming, gum chewing goofball throughout the first act, she speaks to her boyfriend who is running lights for the show.
By the second act, the two have married and we see Suzy pregnant…very, very pregnant. Masciangioli is totally immersed in the role and impresses on each of Suzy’s assigned solos.
(Photo: The CAST of Roger Bean's "THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES" presented by Square One Players in Shrewsbury, MA. through August 11, 2024. Photo Courtesy of Joanne Smith)
The show’s structure, as ably directed by Woloski, saves most of Suzy’s big vocal highlights toward the end of each act, such as the playfully pleading Act One closer, “Hold me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” and later with Aretha Franklin’s empowering “RESPECT."
We also meet Suzy’s exact opposite in the Class of 58’s headstrong, uber-organized Missy Miller (Kaitlyn Ekstrom-Doig), who has supposedly made all the girls costumes in both acts.
Ekstrom-Doig has a delightful voice and shines in many of many of Missy’s tunes, most notably “Secret Love” the “Man of My Dreams Medley” and “Wedding Bell Blues.”
Cindy Lou Huffington (Amanda Lanza) goes through a major evolution of self-discovery between acts which start during the Eisenhower administration, Doris Day, and follow the women up to the end of the Johnson administration, the Fifth Dimension and just after the “Summer of Love.”
Lanza performs Cindy Lou’s songs with proficiency, including “Lucky Lips” in the show’s first act and “Maybe” in the show’s second.
Finally, there’s Betty Jean (aka “BJ”) Reynolds (Stephanie Sarkisian) who instantly becomes a chaotic element within the foursome as she has discovers how Cindy Lou supposedly hit on her boyfriend, John, thus creating a rift in the quartet that continues for a full decade.
Sarkisian is impressively adept at the physical comedy required for Betty Jean, however some of it occasionally felt overplayed and distracted from some of the songs.
The numbers she shines brightly in include "Stupid Cupid" and later in the second act's "Maybe I Know."
As we witness the foursome reunite at their ten-year Class of '58 reunion in Act Two (for those keeping track that would make it 1968) the women try to recapture some of the more pivotal, and more uplifting, moments in their lives.
There are over thirty “familiar” (although that term is becoming more subjective – more on that later) early jukebox classics presented in the show, such as “You Don’t Own Me,” “It’s My Party,” “Leader of the Pack” and more.
Overall, the close relationship and interdependence of these classmates is apparent and enjoyable.
Even though these friends may have gotten older and events of their time away from one another finds them now estranged, they ultimately learn that they are still there for one another.
(Photo: The CAST of Roger Bean's "THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES" presented by Square One Players in Shrewsbury, MA. through August 11, 2024. Photo Courtesy of Joanne Smith)
Each of the individual performers shines and is vocally talented. Their respective exceptional solo moments easily showcases just how talented.
However, the combined harmonies in several of the tunes falls short of the old “Chordettes”-level required harmonies on such tunes as in the show’s opener “Mr. Sandman.”
Thankfully, the gentle good humor and sincere genial connection between the foursome and its audience far outweighs the above concern.
The vocals blended as required for "THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES" which is basically intended as either a cruise ship, dinner theatre or theme park level music revue.
Keep in mind, though, that with Bean’s thinly constructed story, assuming these "WONDERETTES" of the Class of ’58 were each about 17 or 18 years old at the time of graduation, today that would make them all in their mid-eighties.
The sad fact is, just as the march of time did to the music of the 40s and 50s, the further we get from the 60s music era, the less likely shows such as "WONDERETTES" will continue to be staged.
Instead, they will most likely be replaced by a revue looking back at the Class of 2008 regaling us with hits such as….and….and…oh, and also…?? (Well, you can see into what era my musical taste falls).
So, while you can, before time slips away (or at least until August 11th when the show's run ends) enjoy the trip in Square One’s "wayback machine" and celebrate one, if not the, greatest era of music that ever existed.
Most performances are already sold out. So, for tickets and more information, contact Square One at www.squareoneplayers.com
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Approximately 2 hours including intermission
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
This smash Off-Broadway hit takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom, where we meet Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy: four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts!
As we learn about their lives and loves, the girls serenade us with classic ‘50s hits including “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid” and “Lipstick on Your Collar.”
In Act II, "THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES" reunite to take the stage and perform at their ten-year reunion.
We learn about the highs and lows the girls have experienced in the past decade and are charmed to find that no matter what life throws their way, they will conquer it together.
Featuring over 30 classic ’50s and ’60s hits, "THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES" will keep you smiling in this must-take musical trip down memory lane!
ABOUT SQUARE ONE PLAYERS
SQUARE ONE PLAYERS mission is to provide a venue to promote and support the performing and cultural arts in Central Massachusetts. The goal of SQUARE ONE PLAYERS is to provide a quality and economical live theater program that is all inclusive and of course, have a little fun along the way. SQUARE ONE PLAYERS strives to open opportunities to anyone who wishes to participate in the art of theater. SQUARE ONE PLAYERS hopes that one and all will feel welcome to participate either by viewing or taking part in theater shows. Come join SQUARE ONE PLAYERS and be ready to be entertained!
