AISLE SAY Floridas

AT THE HOP

by and with The Alley Cats
Florida Studio Theatre's Court Cabaret
Cocoanut & Pine Aves., Sarasota, 941-366-9000
June 10 through July 6, 2014

Reviewed by Marie J. Kilker

As the first entry in Florida Studio Theatre's Summer Cabaret Sidekicks Series, The Alley Cats demonstrate they are “America's Premiere Doo Wop Group.” They perform all their music a capella and from songs of the 1950s and '60s. Led by founder Mando Fonseca, who delivers most of the talk between musical selections, four singers out of 30+ Alley Cats come from their base in California. The Alley Cats tour the country—including schools where they teach about their music-- in live performances, make CDs, and are featured in radio jingles to voiceovers as well as on TV.

At FST, where cabaret (in two dedicated venues!) seems to be taking over from regular theater, The Alley Cats keep the lights on “so audiences can participate,” says Fonseca. And participate they do! Several women could be billed as dancers the night I saw the show. Of course, there was also the older guy brought on stage to try to keep up with a bunch of doo wop articulations. It was as if we were on a cruise ship full of elderly whooping it up. (Actually the guy didn't do badly, especially considering the many quick changes meant to trip him up.)

The best loved songs included “Shh Boom” and “Stand By Me” with an “Under the Boardwalk” done in the style of The Drifters. The deliveries were either by the entire group in unison or, mostly, by soloists with back-up by the others. Jeremy Bernard, tenor, seemed the most frequent soloist with young baritone Grant Hendrickson the one who ventured into the house. Frank Romeo exhibited his long experience with the group and the deepest voice . Mando Fonseca led into each song as second tenor and spoke most of the patter. This consisted in the main of joking about the group's experiences in Sarasota, having such elderly audiences (though more savvy than visitors from Naples or Tampa or little towns up north), and development of a special holiday show that Fonseca would certainly like to do in Sarasota in the winter. (And wouldn't the audience members like to request same? Or at least buy one or more of the six CDs the group hawks after each show?)

As a plus, The Alley Cats exhibit great timing and pronunciation along with harmony. They don't need musical instruments but they might well benefit from a script writer. Impromptu remarks added 15 minutes to the announced program length of 90 that included an intermission.

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