BWW Reviews: The Simply Marvelous, MARVELOUS WONDERETTES

Are you looking for something to take your mind off the February blues? Is the constant rain and chilly weather getting you down? Do yourself a favour and head down to the PAL Theatre and check out The Marvelous Wonderettes.

It's hard to imagine that anyone would leave the theatre without a huge, silly grin on their face. You know the songs (selected from the 1950's and 1960's), and the four performers knock it out of the park.

Act One takes place at the "Marvelous Prom" of 1958 - a group of four teenage girls are hired at the last minute to entertain their fellow students with some of the most popular songs from the decade. We see them fight, argue, cry, laugh, and sing their little hearts out one last time before graduation day. 

Act Two is set 10 years later at their - you guessed it - Ten Year High School Reunion. The bitterness and hurt feelings from act one are carried over, but of course, in true musical theatre fashion, everyone makes amends, and the audience is the happy receipient of two hours of simple, theatrical fun.

The cast is led by Meghan Anderssen, Diana Kaarina, Jennie Neumann, and Lalainia Lindbjerg, who each have their own strengths on stage. Anderssen and Kaarina share some lovely comedic moments with their wonderful comedic, which they both have the chops for, and Neumann and Lindbjerg both delight vocally. Having said that, each have moments to shine, both with their individual songs and group numbers.

With some excellent work by Steven Greenfield, who serves as musical director with his slick 4 piece band, and the ambience created in the theatre with streamers, balloons, and a whole heap of signs for cupcakes and fundraisers (cleaverly created by the cast), The Marvelous Wonderettes is not just a musical, but a trip to a simpler time of big hair, poodle skirts, and some of the best music ever recorded.

If you remember your prom and what it was like to walk into your high school gymnasium for one last dance with your high school friends, The Marvelous Wonderettes will bring back those memories, and you'll love it.

If you don't remember your prom, or if you didn't go to your prom, you'll long for the time when you had a chance to be Prom King or Queen, and wish for that moment in time again. Minus the homework. No matter what your experience was, you're sure to walk out of the theatre humming the tunes with a big, silly grin on your face that will last longer than the $100 hairdo your prom date had. 

The Marvelous Wonderettes are simply that - marvelous.

The Marvelous Wonderettes plays until February 25, 2012 at the PAL Theatre in Vancouver. Tickets are available through Tickets Tonight.

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