Lullabye of Broadway III
Granite Theatre's current show is the musical revue called "Lullabye
of Broadway III" and is a night of Broadway music developed by Audrey
Kaiser and performed excellently. It's an evening of musical memories,
romance and reminiscences from Broadway's most enduring
and endearing musicals. The show is divided into two acts with
Act 1 called "Some People" and Act 2 called "The Circle of Life". There
are five sections in each act and the show contains 40 songs. Audrey
Kaiser directs,music directs,plays the keyboards, xylophone,and
other instruments but arranged the 40 musical numbers but acts
and sings in the show, too.She merges the comic and dramatic numbers
together perfectly with the emphasis on the comic moments, creating a
vaudeville type atmosphere for this show. The five performers have
dazzling voices while wearing tuxedoes and gowns during the opening
numbers. This wonderful two hour musical extravaganza will keep you
entertained all night long and its reward is a standing ovation at
the close of the show
Each of the five performers and Audrey get a chance to shine in this
show and show off their strong singing voices as well as their comic and
dramatic expertise. Audrey plays on a white baby grand piano most of
the night with a shimmering rain curtain in the background which
changes colors to set the moods for the various numbers. The 175 light
cues are handled by David Jepson who also built the fantastic set for the
show. Hard working stage manager, Arthur Pignataro keeps things
running smoothly and also handles the multitude of props for this
show. The five part harmonies on the group numbers soar. The talented
vocalists in this show are Carol Lyon, Frank Pendola, Maria Tavarozzi,
John Alfiero and Manon Yoder-Kreider. Audrey stages the show beautifully
by utilizing every part of the main stage which contains four
stairways painted a bright fuchsia Her arrangements of these numbers
as well as her piano playing is excellent. Audrey's narrations
include "There's No Business Like Show Business" about how our lives are
like Broadway shows, Mamma Mia medley, South Pacific Medley, Parents and
Children, Mars vs Venus?, On the subject of relationships and the
finale with the vocalists singing and dancing to "The Rhythm of Life". The
wonderfully inventive choreography is by Margaret Hayes and costumes are
by Joan Hepburn and the cast.) The group numbers include
"Lullaby of Broadway", "It's Today", "All I Need is One Good Break", (from
(Flora the Red Menace") where they sing about how they met each
other, "Bali Hai" with lush harmonies in it, "There is Nothing Like a
Dame" a rousing and energetic song which closes the first act, "Can You
Feel the Love Tonight?" (Frank singing lead) and "The Rhythm of Life". An
added treat in this show is that all five performers play instruments
during some of the numbers. Besides "Can You Feel the Love Tonight",
Frank's topnotch baritone voice solos on "La Cage Aux
Folles", where he imitates Mae West and Marlene Dietrich in
a very funny segment. His duets include "I Have a Dream",
"Standing on the Corner" and "It Takes a Woman" with John which
contain excellent harmony on both their parts. He also sings the
emotionally packed "Fathers and Sons" from "Working" which will leave
you in tears at its poignancy while he plays the guitar. Maria
joins in it, too. John's tenor voice is heard in "Everybody Rejoice"
with Manon while they dance around, "I Wanna Be a Producer" with him
dancing in a top hat and a cane while Manon and Maria dance
around him with pink feathers "Honey Bun" dressed in
a grass skirt with black pants rolled up and a red wig which is
hysterically funny and "Mama a Rainbow" with tears in his eyes
having lost his mother eight years ago. Maria, joins in the song
later on(the latter number is a tearjerker song) and the emotionally
charged "My Funny Valentine" and "Where or When" with Carol with them on
opposite sides of the stage ending it in perfect harmony
The women's group numbers include "Take It All Off" from "Jerry's
Girls" which is like a striptease number with Carol wearing a fat-suit
and singing "Put It Back On", "Mamma Mia" and "I'm Not at
All in Love". Carol's strong belting alto voice solos on "The Winner Takes
It All", the emotionally charged, "This Nearly Was Mine" interpolated with
"Some Enchanted Evening", "The Circle of Life", where she enters
from the back of the theatre walking down the aisle "Mama Will
Provide" and "Chief Cook and Bottle Washer" from "The Rink" which stops
the show with sustained laughter when she utters fung goul at the
start of it. Maria's high soprano voice is heard in "Some People",
"Dancing Queen", "Happy Talk", "One Hundred Easy Ways" which is a
funny song about how to lose your man and "Being Alive" which brings
down the house with her powerful rendition. She duets on "Kids" with Carol
while they make very funny jokes during it and on "Cockeyed Optimist"
with Manon which is sung very prettily by them both. She also sings "Mama
a Rainbow" with John and "Fathers and Sons" with the two men. Manon is a
gorgeous blonde who just graduated from RIC with a theatre degree.
Her lovely soprano voice is heard in her solo numbers "Dance
Ten:Looks Three" (which is hilarious and is known as tits and
ass) and "Mama I'm a Big Girl Now" with Carol, John and Maria as
funny back up singers. A word of praise for Manon who stepped in only
two weeks ago to replace an ailing singer. Brava on her learning all these
numbers so quickly. So for a fantastic way to spend an evening in
spring with gorgeous music and talented performers, be sure to catch
"Lullabye of Broadway 3" before time runs out. Tell them Tony sent
you
LULLABYE OF BROADWAY III ( 15 May to 14 June,
2009)
The Granite Theatre, 1 Granite Street, Westerly,
RI
1 (401) 596-2341 or www.granitetheatre.com