Imagine a jukebox exploding like a rocket ship to the moon with all the great tunes of the 1960's, almost two dozen in number and you don't have to keep putting quarters in to hear them. Welcome the boys, who started out as a duet, morphed into a trio and stabilize as a quartet. The Springfield High School Crooning Crabcakes are now all grown up as Denny and the Dreamers and their big dream of the day is to win Big Whooper Radio's Lifetime Talent Search Contest.
Ivoryton Playhouse is ready, willing and most able to give Denny and his pals their big chance at stardom as it presents the cute and clever Roger Bean musical "Life Could Be a Dream" until Saturday, March 30.
Come visit Denny's basement rec room where he runs to escape his mother's nagging him to "Get a Job." Denny, an overly ambitious Aaron Catano, is soon joined by a less than confident but eager to learn Eugene, played by a nerdy but nice Matt Densky and a good old church abiding Wally, captured in sunshine by Rob Rodems. They need a sponsor for the entrance fee to the contest and Wally nominates Big Earl, owner of Big Stuff Auto.
When Big Earl sends his head mechanic Skip, a magnetizing Evan Siegel, to check out the group, Earl's daughter Lois, a charmer with a heavenly voice named Sheila Coyle, tags along to offer coaching advice. Her appearance sends Eugene, who had been crushed by her in fifth grade, into a tizzy and causes all the males in attendance to experience testosterone tail spins of their own.
But Lois only has eyes for Skip and the feeling is mutual, but Skip knows his job is on the line and Big Earl is not going to give them his blessing. As the group prepares for their debut, everything falls apart and Skip is fired, leaves the group and puts the talent search in jeopardy.
A parade of super hits are serenaded from "Fool Fall in Love," "Earth Angel," "Sunday Kind of Love," "Unchained Melody," "The Glory of Love" to "Duke of Earl.," each one better than the one before, and all great listening. Jacqui Hubbard directs this on- target cast in this fun and groovy journey back in time with style and grace.
For tickets ($40, seniors $35, students $20, $15 children), call Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton at 860-767-7318 or online at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org. Performances are Wednesday and Sunday at 2 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
Don't be a "Runaround Sue" or "The Wanderer" and take a chance on missing this fantastic doo-wop, rama lama ding dong, sh-boom of a show.
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