We're brought
back to an era when
girls
formed
high
hair
up-dos (sometimes over soup cans) and girl groups, in
roughly the same order.
But there
was nothing rough about their songs, as six actress-singers prove at
FST. They go through dozens of tunes
made famous by the likes of the Shangri-Las, Shirelles, Supremes.
They wear
crinolines to leather
outfits.
They imitate or
emulate songstresses like Patti
LaBelle, Tina
Turner,
Carole King, Aretha
Franklin,
Diana Ross, and
Janis Joplin. And
what
would a tribute to the
British Invasion
be without
paying homage to Petula
Clark, Lulu, and Dusty Springfield?
The performers are uniformly competent, whether
harmonizing
in
groups
or
soloing. Lori Eure surprises
after a few turns at
near-reticence when
she
screams
out
as
Janis
Joplin and even actually
falls into
"Ball and
Chain."
Lauren Lebowitz's
style is suited
best to the era's
early
tunes, as is Allison Couture's to
Brenda Lee hits. Laiona Michelle shakes
as "Proud Mary" while the
diminutive Sadrina Renee
amazes
with
her
strong
"I
Hear a
Symphony."
Michelle Pruiett
not only sings but acts as a
presenter
of the others
and
of
facts
and
reminiscences about
the
era.
Choreography by JoEllen Kuhlman
demands
frenetic
posturing,
and John Valines'
Sound is designed
to be loud, loud, loud.
Lauren Feldman's
Scenery
uses LP records
in various shapes and
label
colors,
under
Micheal
Foster's
bold
lighting.
Music Director John
Franceschina
joins
pianist
Jim Prosser
and drummer
Tony Bruno
for
very lively
accompaniment .
Production
Stage Manager: Kelli
Karen. Time: 2 hrs. w/intermission.
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