Sunset’s ‘Wonderettes’ a delightful jukebox journey
Sunset Playhouse’s “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” top, flanking director Becky Spice, include, from left, Missy (Kimberly Giddens), Suzy (Jackey Boelkow), Cindy Lou (Amy Barrett) and Betty Jean (Kassandra Novell). The production team for the show is seated. Photos by George Katsekes, Jr.
By MARILYN JOZWIK
Published Jan. 23, 2020
Those of us of a certain age remember songs that were light-hearted and bouncy, songs that had lyrics you could understand, songs that you could sing with your friends as the 45s spun around on the turntable and played day after day on the radio.
As the gloom of a Wisconsin winter settles in, what better place to be than back to those happy days of yesteryear?
Sunset Playhouse is returning to the tunes of the ’50s and ’60s in the light and fluffy “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” directed and
choreographed by Becky Spice, who was the original Missy in Roger Bean’s creation for the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre that opened at the Stackner Cabaret in 1999.
Jackey Boelkow, from left, Kassandra Novell, Kimberly Giddens and Amy Barrett portray “The Marvelous Wonderettes” at Sunset Playhouse.
The show opens in the Springfield High School gym during the Class of 1958 Super Senior Prom. Four girls are performing popular tunes of the time during an evening whose activities include selection of the prom queen.
All four have distinct personalities which come out during the show. Cindy Lou (Amy Barrett) is best friends with Betty Jean (Kassandra Novell). The two share secrets, boyfriends and jealousies. Suzy (Jackey Boelkow) is beyond perky and ditzy, while Missy (Kimberly Giddens) is the mousy one who has a secret love.
The girls do so much more than sing (in lovely harmonies), as they take time to bicker, interact with the prom crowd (including their sweethearts) and, finally, select the prom queen.
The first act floats with the quartet’s silky smooth crooning and in sync movements displayed in the opening, the dreamy “Mr.
Sandman” with its sliding scale of bum-bum-bums delightfully bobbing through, followed by the bubbly “Lollipop,” complete with Betty Jean’s cheek pops.
As the evening moves on, the mischievous Betty Jean gets into a spat with Cindy Lou over who’s to sing a tune, Missy makes a startling revelation (that involves an audience member) and the girls collect the ballots for prom queen. They also manage to wedge in 17 songs—most of which the Sunset audience could have sung along with, such as “All I Have to Do is Dream,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick on Your Collar,” “Sincerely” and “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.”
The girls return in Act 2 for a 10-year reunion in 1968. They’ve traded in their taffeta dresses and sleek, tight flipped hairstyles of the ’50s for the empire waist dresses and big hair of the 60s.
Cindy Lou (Amy Barrett) sings “Leader of the Pack” during “The Marvelous Wonderettes” at Sunset Playhouse.
The girls have grown up, with loves found and lost and adult problems. There’s still plenty of laughter, but the mood is not as light as 10 years earlier.
Each girl sings her 10-year story in a clever set of songs. Missy got the sets started with four tunes, including “You Don’t Own Me,” while Betty Jean followed with a trio that included another Lesley Gore tune, “It’s My Party,” delivered with perhaps a few too many tears.
Cindy Lou described her life with a “Son of a Preacher Man” and a “Leader of the Pack,” complete with roaring motorcycle engines,
sunglasses and some nifty backup singing. Suzy ended the girls’ 10-year odysseys with rousing versions of “Rescue Me” and Respect,” part of an 18-tune second act.
This show is so much fun with its colorful costumes and set, and outstanding music and dance. Music director Paula Foley Tillen, who plays keyboards, leads a versatile group of musicians (Ken Marchand, Olivia Dobbs and Joey Chelius) who faithfully recreate the music of the era while always keeping a good balance of instrumentalists and vocalists.
Barrett, Boelkow, Giddens and Novell all have great voices and have the right flavor for rock and roll, ballad or bubblegum pop tunes, keeping all nifty nuances of the originals.
Plus, the ladies are in constant in sync motion, with all the moves reminiscent of “American Bandstand” – from The Swim to Hand Jive.
I also enjoyed how the first act displayed a youthful exuberance, energy and excitement to the high-school aged characters, while the
second act found them more mature and thoughtful a decade later.
A packed Wednesday night audience showed their appreciation for the performances with lots of laughter and applause and undoubtedly went home with lots of long-forgotten – but once loved – tunes in their heads.
If you go
Who: Sunset Playhouse
What: “The Marvelous Wonderettes”
When: Through Feb. 1
Where: 800 Elm Grove Road
Info/Tickets: 262-782-4430, SunsetPlayhouse.com