Bye Bye Birdie Absolutely Fantastic
A Review by Analicia Feliciano
Staff Reporter
Expressing my emotions on the absolutely fantastic musical that is Bye Bye Birdie will be a difficult task to accomplish in order to fully allow you, as a reader, to comprehend its total and utter awesomeness, but I will try. This 1963 classic was automatically transformed once the actors hit the stage. And, though Ann Margret was fantastic playing the original Kim McAfee, it's taken to a new level as our Kim McAfee is sitting on her bed right in the aisle next to the audience, capturing the crowd's focus. Photo by Kevin Graft: Amanda Jane Cooper as Kim MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie
The idea of the story was to represent 1957 and we were definitely transported to the time period. Strategic props didn't take it overboard, nor made it cheap, and with the actors on a rotating stage every person got a chance to see the front! Having actors right next to you made you really feel like a part of the whole story. It drew you in and made you feel as if the stage wasn't the center, the whole building was. Photo by Kevin Graft: (L to R) Nathaniel Hackmann as Conrad Birdie, Stuart Marland as Mr. MacAfee and Amanda Jane Cooper as Kim MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie.
You didn't feel like you were awaiting people to change the scenery when the lights went down because you were distracted with the current scene that stood as your neighbor. You didn't feel like it was only one time of day because the lighting made it feel like the day was going through transitions with the different colors of bright white to dull blue to a darker ambiance when they were in a train station. It was all very realistic and very wonderful.
The one who brought this play to life, Glenn Castle, before us was simply a genius. The music was daring and perfect for the time period, with Dennis Castellano and Charles Strouse bringing back the songs we all love, such as An English Teacher, The Telephone Hour, A Healthy Normal American Boy, and so many more. The storyline, in my eyes, had this aura of not being afraid to stand up for what you believe in, but without the drama that makes you anxious and, instead, replaced with humor of the petty worries in humanity (such as judgment of/from others). When first going into the theatre, you know that you will Put on a Happy Face after you leave, satisfied and full of laughter. Photo by Charr Crail: (Center) Nathaniel Hackmann as Conrad Birdie with the company in Bye Bye Birdie
We go back into the sixties with an Elvis Presley-like rebel of rock n' roll, Conrad Birdie (Nathaniel Hackman), getting drafted into the military. Out of it all, my favorite actor, personally, had to be Mister Hackman as Conrad Birdie. He was even better than the original actor, Jesse Pearson! He was outgoing and brought in that little extra that made you love him. You understood the screaming girls because of what he did with the character. You understood the parents weariness about him because he was so out there and different! And as he got up on stage to sing, you got excited too! Photo by Kevin Graft: (L to R) Larry Raben as Albert Peterson (left), Amanda Jane Cooper as Kim MacAfee, Nathaniel Hackmann as Conrad Birdie, Sainty Nelsen as Ursula Merkle, Kathryn Mowat Murphy (Mayor’s wife) and Steve Geary (Mayor) with the company in Bye Bye Birdie.
The whole production starts with a song dedicated about him coming from a group of screaming girls (which will be heard possibly 10,000 times throughout the play, and I even found myself singing it after) followed by Albert Peterson (Larry Raben), Birdie's manager, realizing that Almelou (a partnership with his mother, Mae, who is portrayed by Mary-Pat Green) is in debt and completely going under with Birdie having to go. This leaves him in a rut, until the brilliant idea from lovely assistant, Rosie (Janine DiVita), comes up for Birdie to share a kiss with a small town fan, Kim McAfee (Amanda Jane Cooper), gaining much attention with a new song written by Peterson and sung by Birdie called One Last Kiss. Photo by Charr Crail: (L to R) Larry Raben as Albert Peterson, Kim Arnett as Gloria Rasputin, Mary-Pat Green as Mae Peterson and Janine DiVita as Rosie Alvarez in Bye Bye Birdie.
Everything seems to take a different turn nobody expects with Mae arriving in town and Kim's boyfriend, Hugo's (Garrett Hawe), true thoughts on the matter. Many twists, turns, and funny moments of this wondrous production leave you laughing hard, singing along, and enjoying a great portrayal of true happiness and very rock 'n roll hips. Bye Bye Birdie plays July 7-12th, and Music Circus continues with Peter Pan, West Side Story, and Hair. Evening performances are Tuesday through Sunday, at 7:30pm. Matinee performances are on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm. Photo by Charr Crail: (Center) Nathaniel Hackmann as Conrad Birdie with the company in Bye Bye Birdie.
Tickets start at $40 to $83 and are available at (916) 557-1999 or online at www.Tickets.com or at the Box Office at 1419 H Street, in Sacramento. Music Circus is produced under the leadership of Artistic Director Glenn Casale, who has been Artistic Director for California Musical Theatre since 2008 and has directed more than 50 productions for Music Circus and Broadway Sacramento over the past 20 years, and Executive Producer Scott Klier. www.SacramentoMusicCircus.com www.CaliforniaMusicalTheatre.com
In celebration of the 65th season, California Musical Theatre is offering EXCLUSIVE MUSIC CIRCUS MERCHANDISE for sale at every performance this season. There is a nice selection of items to meet all interests and budgets. You can find show specific items like buttons and t-shirts as well as Music Circus specific items like totes, wine tumblers and blankets.
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