Review by Lily Krimmer, Taylor High School Critic Team
Fangirls fainted and phone lines stretched as Mariemont High School's production of Bye Bye Birdie had audiences truly feeling the Conrad mania.
Originally hitting the Broadway stage in 1960, Bye Bye Birdie follows the fictional singer Conrad Birdie being drafted into the war. Birdie's character is heavily inspired by Elvis Presley, who was also drafted into the war after experiencing years of immense stardom. Similarly to Birdie, Elvis was drafted just before the writing of Bye Bye Birdie, inspiring composer Charles Strouse to create a laugh-out-loud parody of Elvis's life.
While the show initially looks like an Elvis parody, Mariemont delved deeper into the show, exploring its themes of fame, love, and obsession.
Jonathan Hester truly encapsulated the spirit of Conrad with his Southern twang and raunchy yet aloof body language. He had audiences enthralled, seeing him as the almost ethereal rock and roll king that his fan club viewed him as. Hester garnered the audience's attention with his profound stage presence and masterful character work. In addition, Claire Long showcased her impressive range through her role as Rosie Alvarez, the secretary stuck in a confusing relationship with her boss/lover. Long shows the audience Rosie's suppressed frustration and rage through her carefully inflected dialogue and emotion-filled vocals. Audiences got insight into Rosie's inner turmoil, wondering if she will give in to her true feelings, despite the possibility of having an impossibly harsh mother-in-law.
Other standout performances came from Guy Tesnar and Cana Peters, who played Harry MacAfee and Mae Peterson, respectively. Tesnar fully embraced his character as both a devout Ed Sullivan fan and a hysterical father. His dramatics often left his family dynamic shifting around him, behaving like a child at times. Another stellar performance as another over-the-top parent was delivered by Cana Peters. Her constant attempts at self-sabotage persuaded her son to keep Rosie away. From lying on train tracks to falling over in a trash can, Peters was not afraid to play into her character, who became more and more ludicrous throughout the show. Her character and the conflict that comes with it act as a metaphor for people refusing to change with the times, as seen through her desire to keep her son with her forever and away from a new life with a new woman.
In addition to spectacular actors, Mariemont also boasts an incredibly creative crew team. Some of the most spectacular elements included the captivating lighting and Kim MacAfee's unique costume design. Curtis Buswell and the rest of the lighting team created designs that added to the set, enhancing the show's emotion. Only one character would be lit in a scene to create a feeling of loneliness, while another scene would have flashing lights of all different colors to create a frenzy. Cana Peters was extremely organized and thorough with her costuming, creating an individual story for each character. One of the most developed costume designs is seen worn by Kim MacAfee. While the other teen girls wore flouncy dresses and nightgowns, Kim wore deeper blues, sweaters, and pants, which aided in showing her desperate desire to transition into womanhood.
The cast and crew of Bye Bye Birdie created a wonderful production that left the audiences feeling as if they were truly part of the Conrad Birdie fan club. Together, they led the audience on a journey of developing maturity and discovering true love.
Review by Julia Biernat, Saint Ursula Academy Critic Team
In the scintillating flurry of bright, colorful lights, screeching fangirls, and a teenage heartthrob 'to die for', Mariemont High School brought their stage back in time to the iconic 1950s to bring the story of Bye Bye Birdie to life.
Bye Bye Birdie, written by Michael Stewart in 1960 and inspired by the true events of icon Elvis Presley's life, depicts the story of Conrad Birdie, a nationally treasured teenager who's stolen the hearts of many, and his talent agent as he strives to save his company after his star client gets drafted into a war.
Overall, Mariemont's presentation of Bye Bye Birdie was nothing short of exhilarating. With lively dance numbers like "One Last Kiss" and hilarious comedic timing from characters like Harry MacAfee, the show truly came alive and successfully depicted the wild and rowdy culture of 1950s teens.
Rosie Alvarez is a confident and bold woman, two attributes actress Claire Long embodied throughout her performance. Especially noted in her solo "An English Teacher," Long's physicality and distinct diction encapsulated the leading essence that Rosie holds and the power-balanced dynamic shared with her love interest, Albert Peterson.
Eloise Letton, through her performance as Ursula Merkle, truly epitomized what it means to be a fangirl. With her spectacular animated expressions, Letton led the ensemble of Birdie's fans and brought laughter throughout the audience as she pined over everyone's favorite star in numbers like "Wounded," where she sang her pledge to Conrad Birdie with unwavering adoration. In a similar comedic regard, Hugo Peabody, played by Trevor Mart, was nothing short of hilarious. Mart depicted an awkward and insecure teenage boy through his comedic timing and lively expressions. He provided major comedic relief and brought to life a voice of reason as he protested against Birdie's influence on the town. Through his physicality and lightheartedness, Mart added significantly to the absurdity and comedy of the entire production.
In addition to the performances, the technical aspects of the production tied it all together. Cana Peters from the costumes crew did a spectacular job in the execution and planning of her wardrobe pieces. From going the extra mile of creating distinct inspiration boards for each character, regardless of size in the show, to attaching Velcro to numerous costumes the day before opening to make an entire ensemble 15-second quick change possible, Peters did a fantastic job. Her costumes were fittingly time-appropriate and, through their bright colors, read beautifully on the bright stage. In a similar regard, the lighting crew led by Curtis Buswell allowed for gorgeous scenes as they meticulously created unique lighting for every song to uplift the liveliness and chaos of the show's plot. Alongside the colorful and bright fanfare surrounding Birdie, Buswell also highlighted the more somber moments in the production by using nothing but a spotlight for more emotional songs seen in some of Rosie's scenes.
Overall, the production of Bye Bye Birdie by Mariemont High School allowed for the topsy-turvy, rock-and-roll-adoring era of the 1950s to truly come to life while also highlighting the talents of each individual student within the performance.
Review by Mya Verticchio, Walnut Hills High School Critic Team
Tangled in winding telephone wires, pulsing with ecstatic jive, and brimming with hysterical squeals, Merrimont High School's Bye Bye Birdie rocked and rolled itself to fame, electrifying the auditorium with contagious energy one simply "Can't Help Falling in Love" with.
Inspired by Elvis's historical selection into the army, Bye Bye Birdie takes a playful spin on the legendary king of rock and roll in a 1950s musical comedy composed by Charles Strouse. Succeeding the drafting of teen-idol Conrad Birdie, the story follows songwriter Albert Peterson and his secretary Rosie Alvarez as they scrape together one final publicity stunt in an attempt to prolong their client's fame.
Bursting with hysterical excitement, lively choreography, and an electric rhythm of rock and roll, Mariemont High School spared no amount of energy in their ecstatic showing of Bye Bye Birdie. The cast and crew's visible dedication to every aspect of the show made it more than a pleasure to watch: a true fit for a King.
Claire Long took to the stage with gravity, immediately capturing the auditorium in her dynamic performance of Rosie Alvarez, a woman headstrong, independent, yet longing for romance in her relationship with her coworker, Albert Peterson. Her compelling performance and powerhouse vocals in songs like "An English Teacher" demonstrated her wide range of skill as an actress. Contrasting Rosie's impenetrable will, Davis Wickham masterfully took on the lovable, yet painfully spineless, Albert Peterson, consumed with his infamous client and his smothering mother. Their expert stage chemistry and beautiful shared vocal performance pulled at the audience's hearts and made for a truly heartwarming ending.
Trailed by a chorus of hysterical squealing, Jonathan Hester played the iconic rock and roll superstar, Conrad Birdie, his uncannily Elvis-like vocals stealing all attention in songs like "Honestly Sincere." Skillfully balancing Birdie's outward persona as a teen idol and rock and roll superstar, while equally capturing the character's more human moments, Hester's performance was a sensation to all, onstage and off.
The show was only elevated by its exceptional tech, breathing life and vibrant color into every scene. Painting the auditorium in washes of bright fuchsia pink, the light amplified the flippant and fun-filled nature of the production, a creative design by lighting head Curtis Buswell. And, in addition to playing Mae Peterson, Cana Peters did an exceptional job as Costume Head, crafting dynamic pieces not only true to the late 1950s time period, but to each character themselves. Impressively juggling more than 180 costume pieces and countless quick changes, the skill and creative effort from the costume crew added depth and spirit to each character and to the show as a whole.
Hysterically captivating and wildly entertaining from start to finish, Mariemont High School's Bye Bye Birdie left the audience "All Shook Up" in the best of ways.
Excepts From Other Top Reviews
"Costume design by Cana Peters reflected the individuality and style of each character through her diligent period research and insightful knowledge of color schemes. Peters accomplished swift and massive quick changes through a Velcro system she sewed by hand and was environmentally conscious through her thrifting and hand selection of 185 pieces. Through the creation of a specialized balancing sheet, Cass Steiner, Seven Teuschler, and crew created an appealing balance between the chorus, leads, and orchestra, enhancing the volume of basses and altos to create a rich harmony in numbers like 'The Telephone Hour.'"
-Norah Shadwell, Highlands High School Critic Team
"The sound, designed by Cass Steiner and Seven Teuschler, was particularly impressive, crafting each microphone pairing to perfectly complement the respective actor. Additionally, the effects added to Birdie's microphone to highlight the period of the piece enhanced the immersive experience for the audience. Lighting, designed by Curtis Buswell, did a wonderful job contributing to the liveliness of the production, using saturated colors and unique blends to emphasize the fanfare of Birdie's arrival."
-Nyla Shahanavaz, Walnut Hills High School Critic Team
"Mariemont High School's production of Bye Bye Birdie was an outstanding display of talent, creativity, and attention to detail. The intricacies, as seen in the costume design and the sound design, effectively transported the audience into the lives of the devotees and their frustrated adult counterparts. The energy brought to the show expertly combined the efforts of the cast and crew and, in turn, created a dazzling spectacle that captured the audience's heart."
-Peyton Pope, Highlands High School Critic Team
"The costumes, designed by Cana Peters, were undeniably crucial to the show's complete immersion in the '50s. Peters' dedication to the show's costuming was truly impressive, as she made a Pinterest board dedicated to each cast member to plan their costumes for each role. Peters' commitment to the costuming even went as far as to source all costumes secondhand to ensure quality and accuracy to the era of the show. Hair and makeup by Eloise Letton, Camryn Martin, Jonathan Hester, and crew enhanced the excellent costumes, with time-accurate looks such as the classic Elvis pompadour."
-Kendall Davis, William Mason High School Critic Team
"The weak-willed, easily influenced leading character Albert Peterson was played expertly by David Wickham, who brought the character's nuances and emotions to the stage with incredible conviction. With such a difficult role, Wickham demonstrated his singing, acting, and dancing skills throughout the show. His headstrong secretary, Rosie Alvarez, was played beautifully by Claire Long. Rosie's strong yet gentle personality shone through in Long's witty performance."
-Sofia Augustine, Saint Ursula Academy Critic Team
"Trevor Mart delivered a unique take on Hugo Peabody, with a hilarious pubescent personality that commanded every scene he was in. This impressive and eccentric take elevated his character throughout the entire performance. Cana Peters delivered an uproarious take on Mae Peterson, with evolving stunts that never failed to provide laughs. Her amazing performance delivered crisp, amusing lines, and further contributed to the atmosphere of the entire show."
-Jonathan Rubin, Walnut Hills High School Critic Team
"The cast of Bye Bye Birdie at Mariemont High School certainly developed a fan club. The show was consistent both in the wide variety of featured cast members and in its ability never to lose steam, even as the train left Sweet Apple, Ohio."
-Andrew Canter, Walnut Hills High School Critic Team
Comentarios