Bye, Bye Birdie (Review)

Bye, Bye Birdie (Review) Bye, Bye delights audience
with teen idol takeoff
Reviewed by Joe Blenkle/Sacramento Stage & Theatre

Kim MacAfee (Julie Ann Emery) swoons at the thought of receiving Conrad Birdie's last kiss before he is inducted into the Army in the Music Circus production of BYE, BYE BIRDIE, July 26-Aug. 1.

    Sacramento Music Circus' production of BYE, BYE BIRDIE opened Monday and if you're a fan of 60s rock n' roll, this musical is right up your alley.

    Admittedly, BYE, BYE's character of Conrad Birdie (Ed Staudenmayer) bears a great resemblance to another well-known 60s rock icon with swiveling hips, deep voice and who entered the army at the peak of his career. And if we gotta tell you who that is, you're beyond all hope.
    Conrad Birdie is the nation's biggest rock star. When he's drafted into the army, his manager, Albert Peterson (Brooks Ashmanskas), is frantic as he can't possibly meet the $50,000 guarantee for lost appearances. On top of that, Albert's girlfriend/secretary Rose (Stephanie J. Block) hands in her resignation, knowing Albert is never going to commit to her and go back to being the simple school teacher he used to be.

    Albert finally caves in though, and Rose comes up with an idea to save him. One girl from Conrad's fan club will be selected to receive a farewell kiss and Albert will write a hit song about the event.
    Everything works fine until Albert, Rose and Conrad move into the girl's house. Kim MacAfee (Julie Ann Emery) is the lucky one, but her father, boyfriend, and a town of screaming female teen fans make it a week to remember.

CAST OF "BYE, BYE BIRDIE" Albert Peterson - Brooks Ashmanskas; Rose Alvarez - Stephanie J. Block; Ursula Merkle - Jennifer Cody; Kim MacAfee - Julie Ann Emery; Mrs. MacAfee - Jane Seaman; Sad Girls - Megan Sikora and Valerie Jane Smith; Mae Peterson - Eleanor Glockner; Conrad Birdie - Edward Staudenmayer; Hugo Peabody - Michael McGurk; Alice - Megan Sikora; Mayor - Patrick Stratton; Mayor's Wife - Dee Dee Healy; Mrs. Merkle - Cheryl Siegle; Randolph MacAfee - Jeff Riegel; Mr. Johnson - Christian Bohm; Gloria Rasputin - Leslie Stevens; Charles F. Maude - Richard Bulda; Dishwasher - Todd Bradley Smith; Teenagers and Adults - Danny Bergold, Richard Bulda, E. Clayton Cornelious, Jenifer Foote, Amber Owens, Megan Sikora, Aaron Douglas Smith, Todd Bradley Smith, Valerie Jane Smith, Leslie Stevens, Christopher Windom.

    I've heard several of the songs from BYE, BYE BIRDIE before, but this was the first time I had actually seen the musical. To sum it up briefly - it was fun! The whole 60s rock 'n roll thing makes for interesting subject matter, and BYE, BYE BIRDIE uses it to tell a somewhat sidetracked love story.

    Brooks Ashmanskas as Albert and Stephanie J. Block in the role of Rose had great onstage chemistry together. They make up one of two major plotlines, while the Conrad Birdie - Kim MacAfee "kiss" makes up the other. Which was more interesting is up to the individual, but both were fun.
    Ashmanskas is a newcomer to the tent and did a fine job as Rose's fidgety boyfriend whose problems range from general insecurity to an over-bearing mother/business partner Mae Peterson (Eleanor Glockner). Mae definitely reminded me of an aunt of mine - complete with a full-length mink and woe-is-me attitude.

Stephanie J. Block

Stephanie J. Block was nothing short of fantastic as Rose Alvarez. She has appeared at Music Circus several times, including last year's CRAZY FOR YOU. Her voice gets better and better every time I hear her.

Julie Ann Emery starred as 15-year-old Kim MacAfee, who has given up Conrad, or so she thought. She's quit the fan club only to find she's won the bye, bye kiss from him. She faces off against her fellow Conrad Birdie fanatics, her jealous boyfriend and parents with comedic results. Emery is also a newcomer to Music Circus and just played Kim in Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera's production of BYE, BYE BIRDIE.

Jennifer Cody

    Another Circus newcomer this season is Jennifer Cody and she rapidly is becoming the darling of the 1999 season. She played Anybody's in the season-opening WEST SIDE STORY, and returned in BYE, BYE BIRDIE to play Conrad Birdie's most fanatical fan - Ursula Merkle. She just completed a run in the Broadway production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST as one of the Silly Girls and also appeared on Broadway in GREASE (Cha Cha), and CATS (Rumpleteazer). She has also toured nationally in CATS, GYPSY and GREASE and is now producing a musical - SUMMER OF '42 - with her husband Hunter Foster. Cody's a delight to watch on stage. The diminutive actress has a way of connecting with the crowd and has a sweet voice to boot. Let's hope we see more of her this season!

    BYE, BYE BIRDIE performs in the Music Circus tent on the corner of 15th and H Streets through August 1, Monday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $23-$40. For ticket information call (916) 557-1999 or (916) 923-BASS, or visit the Music Circus box office at 1419 H Street.
    Next up for the Music Circus is THE SECRET GARDEN, starring former JEKYLL AND HYDE and Tony-nominated star Robert Cuccioli as Uncle Archibald.

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