The Flagpole Radio Café:

A Saturday Night For The Memory Books

From the moment my wife and I were greeted at the theater entrance to Edmond Town Hall by three, smiling young ushers — all garbed in period outfits with cute hats and sashes — I knew we were in for a memorable evening. This was our first trip to Newtown’s own “Flagpole Radio Café,” and while I had some expectations, the evening easily outstripped them.

Immediate comparisons to Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” radio show are expected, but producers Jim Allyn, Martin Blanco and Barbara Gaines have done something special and unique that make it all Newtown. Appropriately titled as the Flagpole Radio Café, Newtown is at the core of these loose and lively productions.

Now in its second season, the Café is a warm embrace of live music, spoken comedy, and the nostalgia of radio yesteryear. In fact, WPKN 89.5FM has been rebroadcasting the entire evening this week (and is archiving it on their website at WPKN.org).

Staged as a radio show, the Café features The Flagpole Shakespeare Repertory Theatre performers reading very funny skits written by Mr Blanco, and The Radio Café Orchestra led by Mr Allyn, performing original and traditional songs (ranging from Americana and pop to roots rock and gospel).

Opening on September 12 with the original “Saturday at the Old Town Hall,” the band showed off their outstanding musical chops — and hinted at the versatility that would be on display all evening long. The comedy performances included hilarious segments like “The Moon Landing Anniversary” — which creatively dropped “I Dream of Jeanie” into the lunar module — witty town commentary in the form of “Swine Flu in Newtown,” and straight-ahead comedy set in Newtown’s classrooms with “What I Did This Summer.”

The highlight of the evening, by far, was Vaneese Thomas, daughter of R&B legend Rufus Thomas (“Walking the Dog”) and a renowned “soul sister” in her own right. Flanked by back-up vocalists Katie Mac and Lydia Mann, and superbly supported by Mr Allyn and The Radio Café Orchestra, Ms Thomas stole the night.

Belting out classics like Etta James’ “Tell Mama” and burning through her sister Carla Thomas’ “A Women’s Love,” she transformed our sleepy Town Hall into an intimate bluesy, soul club. The highpoint was when Chris Teskey (the Café’s host), cajoled Ms Thomas to reminisce about her musical upbringing – at which she offered a wonderful mosaic of family dinners and hanging out with Stax Records/R&B royalty (from William Bell, Booker T, and Sam & Dave, to Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding and a great story about BB King).

Mr Allyn and the Orchestra closed the evening with “Boundless,” an uplifting gospel original (co-written by Mr Allyn and sound engineer David Shugarts) that featured most of the cast as well as Ms Thomas and her vocalists. Propelled by drummer Bob Bonvini, the song escalated in tempo to a full-driving beat that had the whole audience clapping along. Truly a memorable performance that left everyone in an upbeat mood as they wandered out of the theater, with many remarking that they couldn’t believe this took place in our town.

Hats off to Newtown Cultural Arts Commission for supporting such a fantastic event series, and further enriching our arts and music experience here in Newtown. My family and I are eagerly anticipating the next staging on October 24.

If you can’t wait, Charter Communications filmed Saturday night’s performance, so check with Channel 21 for airing dates.

Additional information about upcoming Café performances is available at NewtownArtsCommission.org or by calling 364-0898. Another performance is also being planned for December 5, and three dates will follow in late winter and spring.