Music Theater Works Presents LEGENDS OF THE 50s & 60s GREATEST HITS Review — Infectious Ensemble Energy

Posted on by Amy Munice

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It’s 90 degrees and the sun’s relentless rays beat down on the black asphalt which seems to be sending a high five back to our nearby star.  We are baking in the middle of this solar handshake, sitting on the folding chairs that we brought, per instructions, set up in the designated car spot that is our assigned seat…

Or are we?

 

Odds are that the boomers in the crowd—95%+ of ticket holders by the looks of it--- are there, but not there. Beats catapult us to memory lane, even for those of us who barely know the 50’s songs and only as oldie inheritances that sometimes mingle with the Motown, British Invasion, and protest sounds of the ’60s when there wasn’t a top 100 countdown on the radio. 

Music Theater Works Sends Us Back in Time

Seven singers, keyboard, trumpet, bass, and guitar are our tour guides to the past, along with a baritone radio announcer, reported as being the sometimes voice of Tony the Tiger, who peppers the song in-betweens with facts and factoids about each hit. We learn that on Juneteenth, Lollipop was the first hit single by an interracial group!  The composers who wrote Mona Lisa also wrote the TV theme songs for Mr. Ed and Bonanza!  The Supremes sang the word Baby 68 times in Where Did Our Love Go--- well, we sorta knew that, but never thought to count.  

Why not stay home in the AC and just make a Spotify playlist?  As great as the song selection is—and it is—the bigger draw is the group energy that emanates from the stage, in this writer’s opinion.  Not unlike Simone Biles's fellow gymnastic team members who always seem to cheer on their star with seemingly genuine pride, each of the cast seems to beam as much appreciation for their fellow performers as when their solo or duet turn cycles around. 

They smile broadly as first fans do, and play-act the girl-boy cat and mouse lyrics, especially in the staging of the 50’s songs in the opener. It’s infectious!

Then they dance the mashed potatoes, the twist, the jerk, and yes, many in the crowd of course jump up from their chairs to help out when it’s time for the finale Dancing In the Street. We feel the cast’s fun throughout.  

Truth to tell, you may agree with this writer that some of the performers seem mismatched with their songs at times- not having quite the range or the pacing of the memorized earworms of the originals.   But then, somehow, each performer gets a turn at a song – or two or three – that they seem to be born to croon.

Not a boomer? This might not be the show for you, unless you have an interest in chatting up your grandparents about the way songs sounded back in the day. If you love live theater, this is a reminder of how stage performances can deliver a thrill, even from the other side of a parking lot.  If you came of age listening to a transistor radio, this is a highly recommended top pick for your time.

 

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CREATIVE TEAM:

Music by Hit Artists of the 1950s and 1960s
Directed by Kyle Dougan and Martin L. Woods
Music Director and Conducted by Jermaine Hill

CAST:

Adia Bell
Curtis Bannister
Robin K. DaSilva
Evan Tyrone Martin
Gilbert Domally
Justin Brill
Lydia Burke

WHEN:

Wednesday, June 23, 2021 @ 1:00 PM
Thursday, June 24, 2021 @ 1:00 PM
Friday, June 25, 2021 @ 8:00 PM
Saturday, June 26, 2021 @ 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Sunday, June 27, 2021 @ 2:00 PM

WHERE:

North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie
9501 Skokie Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60077

TICKETS:

$39+ (Half-price for those 25 and under)
For tickets call  (847) 673-6300 or visit the Music Theater Works box office.

Images courtesy of Brett Beiner

Note: Picture This Post reviews are excerpted by Theatre in Chicago

Amy Munice

About the Author: Amy Munice

Amy Munice is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of Picture This Post. She covers books, dance, film, theater, music, museums and travel. Prior to founding Picture This Post, Amy was a freelance writer and global PR specialist for decades—writing and ghostwriting thousands of articles and promotional communications on a wide range of technical and not-so-technical topics.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY AMY MUNICE.

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