Review: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES Delight Audiences of All Ages with Timeless Talent at The Winter Park Playhouse

One of the most beloved powers in the art of theatre is its ability to transport the audience to another time...another place...another era. The audience was delightfully and willingly transported at the opening of THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES at The Winter Park Playhouse on the evening of Friday, September 11.

Through the musical magic of song and dance, the audience is picked up from present day, 2015 and dropped into 1958 at the Springfield High School prom. Here we meet four best friends and the members of the Varsity Song Leaders in the middle of their unexpected prom performance/debut. For movie buffs, think Cry Baby meets Mean Girls. The production stars returning Playhouse performer, Kate Zaloumes as Betty Jean and newcomers Sandia Ahlers as Missy, Caitlin Doak as Cindy Lou and Lindsay Nantz as Suzy. The dreamy prom set (thanks to C.J. Sikorski) immediately allows your imagination to find itself in another reality.

Playhouse Artistic Director, Roy Alan, directed and choreographed the show. With a cast full of young talent, I expected the production to have some awkward pauses and missed beats ... but I found none. Instead, the show is packed with delicious harmonies and unbeatable entertainment. Other than some mic issues in the second act (which all performers handled seamlessly) the show was flawless.

THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES was written and first directed by Roger Bean in Milwaukee in 1999. It subsequently had an Off-Broadway run in New York City for over five years. While I expected this musical comedy to be fun and whimsical, I didn't anticipate a night full of belly laughs and non-stop smiles.

The plot is delightfully simple, yet it also keeps the audience engaged and intrigued. In the first act, we learn about the high-school dreams and dramas of the four leading ladies. Apparently, the scheduled band for prom had to cancel last minute due to an unfortunate smoking incident, which paved the way for THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES to take center stage. Cindy Lou and Betty Jean are best friends, but they share a desire for the spotlight, as well as for the same boy. Suzy has a mad crush on Ricky, the student lighting director for the evening, and Missy tries (but not very hard) to restrain herself from her love interest, Mr. Lee, the music teacher. Classic songs like "Lollipop" and "Dream Lover" help complete the story of the teenage love interests. We then fast-forward ten years to 1968 for the second act, which takes place at the girls' high school reunion. Here we learn that life didn't turn out quite as perfectly as the girls had dreamed on prom night; however, their larger than life hairstyles and go-go boots attempt to make up for the disappointments.

It's rare to see such immediate chemistry between not only the performers on stage, but between the performers and the audience members. Roy Alan's direction allows for just the right amount of audience participation, without seeming forced or contrived. I was instantly hooked with "Sandman" as the opening number and joyfully sang along as the night progressed.

Sandia Ahlers perfectly portrays Missy, the awkward, nervous and seemingly shy member of the group who crushes on the school music teacher. Ahlers is clearly comfortable on stage and keeps the audience continuously laughing out loud. She gives a couple of knock-out performances in "You Don't Own Me" and "With This Ring" in the second act.

As usual, cabaret favorite, Kate Zaloumes gives a sensationally effortless performance. She is hilarious as Betty Jean and her vocals are always spot-on. Zaloumes is clever and witty, and her humor translates seamlessly from stage to audience member. She is the easiest to love (and pity in her rival with Cindy Lou) throughout the show. The classic tune, "It's My Party" in the second act was her most memorable hit of the night.

Lindsay Nantz plays quirky teenager, Suzy. Nantz doesn't miss a beat or a moment in character. Her voice was good in the first act, however her character's personality required a nasal quality that seemed to hide her bold talent. That being said, she held nothing back and brought it home in "Rescue Me" and "Respect" to close the show. The audience was singing and dancing right along with her stellar vocals.

Given a cast this talented, it's difficult to opine that anyone really stood out, but I have to admit I voted for Cindy Lou for prom queen. Recent UCF grad, Caitlin Doak, knocked it out of the park as the love-to-hate, "prettiest girl" in school. Her voice has an impeccable tone and her performance was gutsy and flawless (despite some mic issues in the second act). Her rhythmic dancing with stylish and flowing movements also captured my attention. Doak rocked the house in "Son of a Preacher Man" and "Leader of the Pack," which were my favorite numbers of the night and included some extra impressive choreography by Alan.

The music was excellent throughout the entire show, thanks to music direction by Christopher Leavy, accompanied by the talented Ned Wilkinson and Sam Forrest. As a child of the 80s, I can attest that despite the music being from the 50s and 60s, the direction by Alan makes this show relevant for ALL ages. Frankly, I expected a show about a past-time prom to be a bit cheesy, but instead I found it cheerful, genuine and full of comedic surprises. The only thing missing was a poodle skirt.

Don't miss your second chance to have a blast on prom night! The runtime for THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES was just over two hours (including the 15 minute intermission). Ticket prices are $40 evenings, $36 senior evenings, $30 matinees, $15 student and industry professionals. Also notable, "Student rush" offers $10 tickets for students 25 years and younger 10 minutes prior to a performance when seats are available. Call 407-645-0145 or visit Winter Park Playhouse's website, http://www.winterparkplayhouse.org for ticket and more information.

Photo Credit: Vincent Gerace: (Left to Right) Sandia Ahlers, Lindsay Nantz, Caitlin Doak, Kate Zaloumes

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