Photo by Linnea Farnsworth Photography
Review submitted by Emily Townsend of Flint Hill School
The rock and roll cast and crew of the Connelly School of the Holy
Child’s theater department excited audiences with their charming and
comedic performance of “Bye Bye Birdie,” based on the book by Michael
Stewart. The show, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee
Adams, portrays the tale of 1960 rock-and-roll idol, Conrad Birdie, his
adoring fans, and his managers, Albert Peterson, and Rosie Alvarez.
Rosie arranges a publicity stunt, where Birdie will kiss one lucky fan
before he must leave for the army, welcoming Kim MacAfee, her kooky
family, and the whole town of Sweet Apple, Ohio, into the plot. Love
triangles, family arguments, and the thrill of being on The Ed Sullivan
Show present most of the comedic points in the musical, but the main
emotional storyline follows Rosie and Albert’s complicated relationship,
as they struggle to manage Birdie, keep the town’s kids out of trouble,
and, most importantly, express their feelings for each other.
Kelsey Kley, who portrayed Rosie Alvarez, delivered convincing emotion
through her lines, had a beautiful singing voice and connected well with
her co-stars on stage. As one of the most talented singers and actresses
in the production, Kley not only entertained the audience with her
attitude and range of expression but also asserted her character’s power
over Albert (Jillian Geils). Geils depicted her character’s anxious and
dependent, yet endearing nature in a believable way, primarily through
her natural stage presence. Furthermore, Geils and Kley had great
on-stage chemistry, presenting both engaging argument scenes and
touching romantic musical numbers, such as the Act II finale, “Rosie.” A
third standout performer was Coco Lynch, who played Mrs. Peterson,
Albert’s overbearing and stubborn mother. Lynch delivered some of the
funniest lines in the show, in part due to her well-timed physical
comedy and facial expressions.
Noteworthy aspects of tech involvement included lighting design and
sets. The lighting was unique, using spotlight, shifting lights,
different colors, and blackouts to adjust to the shifting moods of the
scenes throughout the show. For example, during Act I’s “An English
Teacher,” Rosie was kept in the light while Albert was out of the spot,
representing Rosie’s desire for independence. The sets, which included
the town square, the MacAfee home, and the office of the Almaelou Music
Corporation, were charming and well put-together, and the crew
transitioned between the different locations seamlessly. All in all, the
energy of the performance, the enthusiasm of certain actors, and the
visually appealing technical side of the show contributed to a feel-good
rendition of Bye Bye Birdie that left the crowd wanting to “put on a
happy face.”
The performance reviewed was from Friday, 2/28/2020.
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