FREE TIME
Sh-boom! `Taffetas' brings back 1950s tunes
December 1, 2006|By Christine Cole, Special to the Sentinel
EUSTIS -- Comedies and musicals portraying the 1950s often poke fun at the era.
An exception is The Taffetas, an affectionate romp through the music of the Eisenhower years.
The Bay Street Players production, subtitled "A Musical Journey Through the Fabulous Fifties," opens at 8 p.m. today at the State Theatre.
"The play is not a parody and not in the style of Grease, " said director Ken Rush. "It is the very true delivery of the time, more like Father Knows Best."
To support the music in the show, a thin plot line brings the Taffetas, a singing group of four sisters from Indiana, to New York City to appear on a network television show, Spotlight on Music.
Half the fun is the costumes, said Bay Street Players president Elizabeth Scholl, who plays Kaye, one of the Taffetas.
"In Act One, we are in pastels: green, pink, blue and lavender," she said.
"That is, the full skirt with the petticoat, shoes dyed to match, long gloves and pearls."
A week ago, during Light Up Eustis, the four actors, Mariah Phillips, Natalie Renick, Debra Sussman and Scholl, walked across Bay Street to Ferran Park in costume.
"I saw ladies light up and smile," Rush said. "I could hear them say. `I remember when I wore that.' That is where the humor comes from, the audience's own memories."
Songs such as "Mr. Sandman," "Sincerely" and "Sh-Boom" are mixed through the show, along with themed medleys based around boys, travel and hurt, Scholl said.
"The hurt medley includes `I'm Sorry,' `I Cried' and `Smile,' " she said.
Artistic director David Clevinger designed the production and built the set. Timothy Turner served as the musical director. William Dumas designed the lighting and Karen Kline was the costume designer.
The play will continue through Dec. 17 at the State Theatre, 109 N. Bay St. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Matinees begin at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are $18 except Thursday, when they are $15.
For reservations or information, call 352-357-7777.
Sh-boom! `Taffetas' brings back 1950s tunes
December 1, 2006|By Christine Cole, Special to the Sentinel
EUSTIS -- Comedies and musicals portraying the 1950s often poke fun at the era.
An exception is The Taffetas, an affectionate romp through the music of the Eisenhower years.
The Bay Street Players production, subtitled "A Musical Journey Through the Fabulous Fifties," opens at 8 p.m. today at the State Theatre.
"The play is not a parody and not in the style of Grease, " said director Ken Rush. "It is the very true delivery of the time, more like Father Knows Best."
To support the music in the show, a thin plot line brings the Taffetas, a singing group of four sisters from Indiana, to New York City to appear on a network television show, Spotlight on Music.
Half the fun is the costumes, said Bay Street Players president Elizabeth Scholl, who plays Kaye, one of the Taffetas.
"In Act One, we are in pastels: green, pink, blue and lavender," she said.
"That is, the full skirt with the petticoat, shoes dyed to match, long gloves and pearls."
A week ago, during Light Up Eustis, the four actors, Mariah Phillips, Natalie Renick, Debra Sussman and Scholl, walked across Bay Street to Ferran Park in costume.
"I saw ladies light up and smile," Rush said. "I could hear them say. `I remember when I wore that.' That is where the humor comes from, the audience's own memories."
Songs such as "Mr. Sandman," "Sincerely" and "Sh-Boom" are mixed through the show, along with themed medleys based around boys, travel and hurt, Scholl said.
"The hurt medley includes `I'm Sorry,' `I Cried' and `Smile,' " she said.
Artistic director David Clevinger designed the production and built the set. Timothy Turner served as the musical director. William Dumas designed the lighting and Karen Kline was the costume designer.
The play will continue through Dec. 17 at the State Theatre, 109 N. Bay St. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Matinees begin at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are $18 except Thursday, when they are $15.
For reservations or information, call 352-357-7777.
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