Bye, breezy ‘Birdie’
By John Berger
Special to the Star-BulletinIT'S been 35 years since a radically reworked version of "Bye Bye Birdie" was immortalized as a light and fast-moving movie musical starring Dick Van Dyke, Janet Leigh, Ann-Margret, Bobby Rydell, Jesse Pearson and Paul Lynde. The film has been available on video for years, but don't expect to see much of that familiar story as Tom Moffatt and Encore Attractions present in Blaisdell Concert Hall a road-show revival of the original stage version. The revival is darker, heavier, slower and much more cynical.
Bye Bye Birdie: At 7:30 p.m. tonight, 8 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Blaisdell Concert Hall. For tickets, $20-$42.50, call 545-4000 or (800) 333-3388. Information, 591-2211.
Albert Peterson (Chuck Ragsdale) is a nasty manipulative show biz jerk deeply in debt to crude but handsome teen idol Conrad Birdie (Casey Marshall). Kim MacAfee (Krista Pigott), the virginal small-town fan Conrad is scheduled to kiss on network television before reporting for duty in the Army, is a nasal-voiced ditz. Hugo Peabody (Ryan Black), Kim's jealous boyfriend, is a dim-witted dolt. Kim's father (Troy Donahue) is grim and humorless.
Conrad ends up sneaking out of town disguised as a woman after he's arrested on a bogus charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor or something.
Fans of the Broadway version won't be surprised by the less-than-likable original characters or the less-than-memorable numbers that were omitted from Irving Brecher's 1963 screenplay. Cutesy references to Donahue's early television and film roles and a gratuitous mention of Kenneth Starr are another matter. Such topical add-ons shouldn't be necessary to get laughs.
Christina Vaccaro (Rosie Alvarez) needs no such help with her portrayal of Albert's loyal and loving secretary. Vaccaro sings with feeling and moves with show-stopping grace. Watch her melt in the romantic moments. Watch her all but spit fire when Albert forsakes Rosie for his nasty manipulative mother (Anita Wlody). If one performer deserves a standing ovation Vaccaro is the one.
OK, Marshall deserves one too. He has the components of a great Birdie, including the comic skills needed in the slapstick destruction of "One Last Kiss." His "Honestly Sincere" rendition is on the money. His teamwork with Pigott on "A Lot of Lovin' to Do" is strong and catch his reaction to the phrase, "jail bait" -- he can act!
Director/choreographer Michael Phillips' staging of "The Telephone Hour" and "Honestly Sincere" are joyful musical highs.
John Berger has covered the local
entertainment scene since 1972.
