"Bye Bye Birdie" Takes Wing In Burns Park Players Production

'Bye Bye Birdie' takes wing in Burns Park Players production

STAGE REVIEW

First-rate musical in all aspects

BY ROGER LELIEVRE

News Arts Writer

There’s nothing but good to report about the Burns Park Players’ latest production, the musical “Bye Bye Birdie,” which opened last Friday.

From beginning - an overture of ’50s TV theme songs sung by surprisingly tuneful first- third-graders - to end, this is a show of which everyone involved can be proud. Director Mike Mosallam fields a cast of 45 adults, more than a dozen teenagers and about 80 Burns Park Elementary School students.

Mosallam’s pal, Justin Miller, stepped into the key role of Conrad Birdie at almost the last minute. The University of Michigan musical theater graduate, although plagued by a faulty microphone early on opening night, came through like a pro, especially on the rockin’ “A Lot of Livin’ to Do” in the second act. Choreographers Garrett Miller and Jenni Barber did an amazing job with the show’s flashy dance routines.

“Bye Bye Birdie” is set around an Elvis-type rock star’s final night of freedom before being drafted into the U.S. Army. His marriage-phobic manager, Albert (Jeffrey Post), and Rosie (Eva Rosenwald), Albert’s long-suffering gal pal, come up with a scheme to make money off Birdie before he departs: a kiss with an innocent, small-town girl on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” that girl turning out to be young Kim MacAfee (Lizzie Randolph) from Sweet Apple, Ohio.

Albert, Rosie and a leather-clad Birdie set up shop inside the home of Kim’s parents (Frank Worden and Ann Herman), upsetting their routine, much to her dad’s dismay. Kim’s new beau, Hugo (Evan Perich), is not pleased either - he doesn’t want his girl smooching another man on national TV. Meanwhile, Albert’s overbearing mother (Jane Glass) is none too thrilled about Albert and Rosie’s plan to marry, and Birdie just wants to enjoy his last hours as a civilian.

Although almost everyone involved in the show is fine, a few cast members are first-rate. Rosenwald falls into this category. A Burns Park native who recently moved back to the area with her family, Rosenwald - a newcomer to the stage - can belt out a song like nobody’s business, dance up a storm and act as if she’s had years of training.

Worden is also outstanding, blessed with a rubber face, great comic timing and a better-than-average singing voice. He’s a pleasure to watch as he dithers and rages in response to being treated shabbily in his own home after Birdie and company arrive, and a joy to listen to as he and Herman tackle one of the show’s most familiar numbers, “Kids.” Randolph makes a fine Kim, Perich pulls off the role of jealous boyfriend perfectly, and Post owns a fine singing voice that makes him a strong match for Rosenwald. Finally, Glass as Mae Peterson, Albert’s stereotypical Jewish mother, is an absolute hoot, serving up guilt by the gallon.

Costumer designer Joan Boonin’s perfect 1950s outfits deserve mention, as does the snappy orchestra conducted by Eric Lofstrom. And the set designs are clever, highlighted by a number that placed cast members behind several mock TV sets.

"Bye Bye Birdie" continues at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday at Tappan Middle School Auditorium, 2251 E. Stadium Blvd. Call (734) 994-8706.