Who? Singers Thomas Alderson and Michael Vanhevel — Thomas sings Broadway Show Tunes and Michael croons Rat Pack Hits.

What? “Show Tunes & Croons” Benefit Concert

When? Saturday, January 28, 2012 – 2:00 p.m. in Strathroy, 7:00 p.m. in Forest

Where? Strathroy United Church, 131 Front Street West, at Maria Street in Strathroy (2:00 p.m.)
                    Forest United Church, 21 James Street North, at Jefferson Street in Forest (7:00 p.m.)

Why? Free Will Offering to raise funds for Chelsey Alderson’s mission trip to an orphanage in Peru. Chelsey is a volunteer with Friends of the Orphans Canada , www.fotocan.org, and will be working with special needs children.  FOTOCan works closely with Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (Our Little Brothers and Sisters) orphanages, www.nph.org, founded by Father Wm. Wasson.

How?

Thomas Alderson is a professional actor/singer/dancer whose credits include Bud Frump in How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying at Huron Country Playhouse, Grand Bend and Mordred in a North American tour of Camelot, Tommy in The Music Man and Moody in Anne of Green Gables at the Capital Theatre, Port Hope; Charlie Dalrymple in Brigadoon, Gordon Schwinn in A New Brain, Gypsy and 110 in the Shade at Theatre Sheridan, as well as Hairspray and High School Musical with Drayton Entertainment, White Christmas at Manitoba Theatre Centre, four High School Projects at London’s Grand Theatre, and various productions with London Musical Theatre, Bluewater Musicals and Theatre Sarnia. Thomas grew up near Grand Bend and now divides his time between Toronto and Strathroy. A graduate of the Music Theatre Program at Sheridan College, Thomas won both the Triple Threat and the Academic Awards. He is also a graduate of H. B. Beal Secondary School’s musical theatre program in London.

Michael Vanhevel of Grand Bend is a popular entertainer singing the old favourites in Rat Pack Style. A big fan of Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and other great crooners, Michael is well on his way to being the next Michael Bublé. With a smooth, melodic voice beyond his 20 years, he enthrals crowds wherever he goes. He entertains regularly at Oakwood Inn, Gables and other venues in Grand Bend and throughout the area. On February 10, Michael will be presenting a concert “Come Fly with Me” at the Imperial Theatre, Sarnia (call the box office 877-344-7469 for tickets). Michael studied Performance at Sheridan College and is a graduate of North Lambton Secondary School in Forest, where he literally sang his valedictory address.

Written by Dan Needles
Directed by Douglas Beattie
Performed by Rod Beattie, Tim Campbell, Adrienne Gould, Douglas E. Hughes.
Grand Theatre, London
January 17 to February 4, 2012
Reviewed by Mary Alderson

Advice for Living in Port Petunia

If you leave Walt Wingfield’s farm and drive across Persephone Township, you’ll head straight into Port Petunia and see Ed’s Garage along the lakeshore. At Ed’s Garage, you get much more than an oil change. If you’re lucky, Nick will offer you the Gold Package, where you get an oil change, a check up for your pick up truck, and a check up that will pick you up. Comedy is included with the psychoanalysis at no extra change.

Ed’s a former farmer – thanks to the tough economy, he’s now a garage owner, and faux farmer for income tax purposes. With help from his sidekick, Nick, Ed repairs trucks, tractors, boat motors and anything else that needs fixing, including the residents of Port Petunia. Nick recognizes Ed’s skills in social work, and books appointments accordingly. When Peter, a young man frustrated with municipal red tape loses his temper with the compliance officer, he shows up at Ed’s Garage for anger management training. In fact, his appointment is with the pretty, new psychoanalyst next door, but Ed launches into a session with Peter, because that’s what he does. Comedy results when the citified psychoanalyst is introduced to life in Port Petunia.

By the time the mistaken identity is uncovered, there are other twists in the plot including a re-enactment of the war of 1812. But of course, it all results in a happy ending with the requisite romance.

After seeing Rod Beattie perform in all the Wingfield plays, where he handles so many roles himself, (who else can have a sex change just by raising his eyebrows?), it seems a little odd to see Rod play just one part. At times he is reserved and tentative as Ed, without the gusto we saw in his multi-role shows. Is he trying too hard to not be a Wingfield character? If Ed is indeed the guy that everyone in town comes to for advice, then he needs to show a little more confidence and assertiveness.

Douglas E. Hughes is a delight as Nick – the former municipal official who decided it is better to join Ed than try to beat him. Much of the humour comes from his good natured comments.

Tim Campbell is good as the smitten country boy in need of counselling, while Adrienne Gould as Cassandra, the city girl psychoanalyst, offers the contrast in the city vs. country comedy.

The set is remarkable – the rusty old garage, complete with the handy bulletin board and a map of the town looks just like something you’d see in small town along Lake Huron’s shoreline. The old Evinrude motor with a mind of its own makes one nostalgic for the good old days, and the two Muskoka chairs look very inviting.

Costumes are realistic, except for one comment – Cassandra says she can’t go out into the cow pasture because she’s wearing sandals. Please, those are wedge espadrilles

The dialogue, typical of Dan Needles, is clever and witty. Ed’s therapy techniques are hilarious. His monologue on the menace presented by the big round bale is probably his best moment in the show, garnering spontaneous applause on opening night.

Over all, it has all the humour of the Wingfield play, but it may just take a little time for Beattie and the audience to get used to having others share his stage.

Ed’s Garage continues at the Grand Theatre, London until February 4. Tickets are available at the Grand box office at 672-8800 or 1-800-265-1593 or visit www.grandtheatre.com.

Musical Revue by Howard Pechet & Timothy French
Directed and Choreographed by Timothy French
Musical direction by Michael Lerner
Performed by Troy Adams, Karen Andrew, Tafari Anthony, Andrew Broderick, Louise Camilleri, Aadin Church, Saccha Dennis, Teresa Holierhoek, Rob James, Jivaro Smith
Stage West, Mississauga
November 24, 2011 to February 5, 2012
Reviewed by Mary Alderson

Golden Oldies from Motown Gold

Anyone who grew up in Southwestern Ontario in the sixties and seventies listened to one radio station: CKLW, The Big 8, in Windsor. And although it was a Canadian station, it served the Detroit market first – commercials were all Detroit car dealers, and the news was about the violence in Detroit (its name had become Murder City instead of Motor City), and yet, we Canadian kids listened loyally. This was in the years before the Canadian content laws on radio, and CKLW did not have a beaver pile of Canadian 45s. And so, we heard mostly Motown: We knew every Supremes hit.

So for me, going to see Motown Gold at Stage West in Mississauga was a big nostalgia trip. A total of 64 songs takes the audience down memory lane. A cast of 10  amazing singers (six men, four women) perform all the great Motown hits and provide brief history lessons between songs. We hear about Berry Gordie who started Tamla Records in the fifties, and had his team of writers and talented singers in a ramshackle house called Hitsville USA, The Motor City Sound – which of course, morphed into Motown. Early singers were Smokey Robinson, Mary Wells, and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas.

The hits continue with The Temptations, The Four Tops and The Supremes. Every song is familiar: My Girl, Baby Love, Get Ready, You Can’t Hurry Love, I Hear a Symphony, I’ll Be There, Stop in the Name of Love, and the big hit I’m Gonna Make You Love Me.

Act II opens with The Jackson 5, and a neat story with a Canadian connection. It was a soul group called Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers, from yes, you guessed it, Vancouver, that first heard The Jackson 5. Taylor had signed with Motown Records, and introduced the Jacksons to Berry Gordie in 1969. From the Jackson 5, the show moves on to Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Commodores & Lionel Ritchie, Motown Disco, New Motown and the big finale, Stevie Wonder, followed by a powerful rendition of Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

All 10 cast members are strong with rich, powerful voices. In particular, I enjoyed seeing Karen Andrew and Andrew Broderick perform again – they  both appeared in Hairspray in Grand Bend and St. Jacobs earlier this year. Andrew is incredible as a young Michael Jackson, complete with an oversized Afro and a suede vest with long fringe. He has boyish charm singing I Want You Back and ABC.  Karen is an amazing dancer, and together with Saccha Dennis, performs the emotional show-stopper Midnight Train to Georgia.

This show is pure entertainment offering up a full encyclopedia of Motown music and fun facts. Take time to enjoy the buffet dinner theatre, and book a suite at Stage West: it’s a great mini vacation.

Motown Gold continues in dinner theatre at Stage West, Mississauga until February 5. For tickets, including nightly dinner or Sunday brunch, and hotel room packages, contact 1-800-263-0684 or www.stagewest.com