Theater Review—

‘Birdie’ Helps Musicals At Richter Say Farewell

To Another Entertaining Season Under The Stars

By Julie Stern

DANBURY — Once again, Director Donald Birely, Choreographer Matthew Farina and Musical Director Tina Lorusso have done a top notch job putting together a large cast made up of old and new faces, to mount a very enjoyable production of the 1960 Tony winner, Bye Bye Birdie.

Inspired by the media frenzy that occurred when Elvis Presley was drafted into the Army, and as a publicity stunt was to give a Good-Bye kiss to “one lucky WAC,” the show — the third and final offering for Musical At Richter’s 2012 season — focuses on the travails of music producer Albert Peterson, in the days before star client and teen idol Conrad Birdie is to report for induction.

Albert, who dropped out of graduate school to assume temporary control of his family record business, has spent the last eight years torn between his love for his secretary, Rosie Alvarez, and his sense of filial responsibility to his overbearing mother, Mae, whose prejudice against Hispanics drives her to use every means she can to break up the romance.

Furthermore, Albert is enmeshed in contractual obligations to pay Birdie more money than he actually has, and he worries that Birdie will behave badly, unless he and Rosie keep very tight reins on the bumptious boy. When they all descend on Sweet Apple, Ohio — home of Kim MacAfee, the lucky teen fan chosen to be kissed by Birdie — the course of true publicity does not run smooth…

As with Brigadoon earlier this season, the show is enhanced by a strong ensemble of nearly three dozen kids and adults backing up the principals. Choreographer Farina keeps them all moving smoothly, especially in the Pennsylvania Station numbers, “Put on a Happy Face,” and “Normal American Boy.”

Probably the hottest figure in the cast is Lauren Sherwood, a newcomer to Richter, who plays the spirited Rosie, who stands her ground against her bigoted rival.

Beth Bria, trudging around in a moth eaten mink as she turns the screws of guilt against her son, gives a strong comic performance as Mae (Mama) Peterson.

Another natural comic performer is Chuck Stango, as Mr MacAfee, Kim’s perpetually outraged father. Christy Coco, in the role of Kim, has a presence and voice that seem far more mature than the high school student she is in real life.

Damian Long is sweet and conflicted as the (somewhat nebbish) Albert Peterson, while Matthew Wilcox shuffles and slouches about the stage as the supposedly “sincere” Birdie, heading off to do his duty.

This is not one of the great musicals of all time, but it keeps getting staged as a chance for many many kids to participate. In this case they do such a good job that it is really entertaining.

More power to Richter for one more fine year in a very happy tradition.

(Performances continue Friday through Sunday evenings, under the stars, until August 11. There is also a special Thursday evening performance being offered on August 9.

See the Enjoy Calendar, in print and online, for ticket, curtain and other details.)