In the late 1940’s in America, a new genre of music, originating in rhythm and blues, jazz and gospel, emerged. It was created by African American artists but soon gained popularity with white performers and audiences. It became known as doo-wop, and such groups as the Drifters, the Platters. the Temptations and singers like the Mills Brothers, the Ink Spots and the Moonglows encouraged its growth and popularity. This unique style of harmony, identified by a series of nonsense words like tutti fruit, be-bop-a-lula, ooby dooby, drip drop, rama lama ding dong, ooh-poo-pah-doo, ting-a-ling and da-doo ron ron, are ready to entertain you thanks to a quartet of guys eager to share their musical skills in “Unchained Melodies” at Waterbury's Seven Angels Theatre until Sunday, November 24.
Come welcome local boys Joseph Torello, Michael Ricciardone, Raul Calderon and Tanner Sperry to the stage as they offer an interesting historical and musical view of the era, inserting tidbits about the performers and their place in the journey as they happily warble all the great tunes that mark this time. Wonderfully nostalgic are the parade of songs they offer for the audience’s enjoyment, songs that were made popular in New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles.
You will soon find yourself humming and tapping along to such hits as “Life Could Be a Dream,” “Blue Moon,” Yes, I’m the Great Pretender,” “Why Must I Be a Teenager in Love?,” “Little Darlin', “ “Charlie Brown,” “Dance With Me” and “My Mother Told Me You’d Better Look Around.” These were songs of first love, lost love, the perils of dating, the songs of Kander and Ebb, the music of Lieber and Stoller, the influences of the Beach Boys and the Beetles, the changes instigated by the Four Seasons and Frankie Valli and how each curve and turn took place along the way. It’s like a historical music class where there are no final exams, just listening pleasure.
“Unchained Melodies” was written by Rebecca Hopkins,Richard Hopkins and Jim Prosser, directed by Russel Garrett, musically directed by Mike Wilkins on Keyboard, with Dan Kraszewski on bass and Mark Ryan and Bob Nolte on percussion. For tickets ($30 for those under 40, or $45, call Seven Angels Theatre, Plank Road, Waterbury at 203-757-4676 or online at SevenAngelsTheatre.org. Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Flex passes for prescriptions are now available. Watch for specialty food nights. Also canned goods for Thanksgiving are requested by St. Vincent DePaul for donation.
Remember the past as you travel down the highway musically with this foursome who are anxious to entertain you the sweetest way they know how in their New England premiere.
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