by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
You have until May l9th to enjoy an evening at a WW II USO show as presented by Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre, on stage at the Adele Grage Cultural Center in Atlantic Beach. You will imagine yourself as a member of the Armed Forces sitting in the audience and being entertained by four Hollywood stars and starlets, Kristin Livingston, Kristopher Copeland, Lauren Dostaler and J. Shannon Wallace.
The four talented performers bring musical credits from many sources: singing in churches, colleges, theme parks, and many local productions. They each have a unique voice and each contributes something special to the performance. The group does many of the famous songs from the 40s in four-part harmony, and they shine as well in individual solos.
Mr. Wallace and Mr. Copeland team up in one of the only non-musical portions to do the old Abbot and Costello comedy routine “Who’s on First” which proved to be as funny today as it was 60 years ago.
Act I, our entertainers wore uniform khakis while in Act 2, the ladies are attired in lovely period gowns and the guys are in tuxedos. There is a charming take off on the Andrew Sisters. Here they are called the Henderson Sisters, singing the hits ‘Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree,’ ‘Boogie Bugler Boy’ and ‘Bei Mir Bist du Schon.’ You are saying there are only two women in the play? How could they play three sisters? Well, you can’t “drag” that answer out of me, you will have to see the show.
I had a lot of favorites in this show like ‘Chattanooga Choo-Choo’ and ‘Sentimental Journey,’ but the song I loved the best was ‘Moonlight Serenade.’ The harmony was absolutely out of this world.
The amazing Shelli Long was not only the artistic director, the musical director and played the piano, but she designed the set as well. The theatre was festooned with flags and other memorabilia from WWII, including duffle bags, camouflage netting, and even pinup girls (Betty Grable, oh la la)! Philip Walls added some interesting light designs that really put us “In the Mood.”
The ninety-minute show closed with the cast and audience standing, waving small flags and singing, ‘This is My Country’ and ‘God Bless America.’ There weren’t many dry eyes in the house.
This show as written by Rick Lewis, who spent fifteen years working in New York theatres, and wrote ‘The Taffetas’, a popular revue style musical of 40s and 50s songs.
Lewis now lives in Portland, does a lot of musical theatre direction and is still writing revues.
Ms. Long and her “band” performed to perfection, never overpowering the singers. Shellie also created the choreography, which was also outstanding.
What a great evening of entertainment, with a trip down memory lane to listen to wonderful music that was the inspiration for Americans in and out of uniform during a long terrible war.
Don’t miss this show. It is one that lingers with you and really makes you pause and think about the men and women who, once again, are fighting another war for Old Glory.
For information call 249-7177 or visit their website abettheatre.com
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