Lethbridge's Theatre and music community came out in force to support Lethbridge Musical Theatre with a three day taste of LMT's past, present and possible future, Nov. 12-14 at the Yates Theatre.
The revue show and fundraiser is to raise enough money to put on a full length production next year.
The show opened with a running comedic bit featuring janitors Rita Peterson and Ed Bayly and theatre ghost Donna Kalau reminiscing about a theatre which is about to be torn down for a mini-mall, of which the history is similar to that of Lethbridge Musical Theatre. So the characters talked about some of the productions the theatre put on to introduce the performances. It was a special treat to see Ed Bayly, a longstanding member of LMT and Playgoers of Lethbridge back on stage as he suffered a heart attack a few years ago. He has been involved with most LMT productions over the past 40 odd years.
The cast began the performance by performing “On Broadway,” next to an audition sign as “directors sent them away one by one as if they were auditioning.
That paved the way for the first half of the show featuring selections from classic musicals which LMT has put on including Big River, My Fair Lady (Brenda Forrest and Darrell Croft singing two separate selections), the King and I (Lea Switzer), Kiss Me Kate (Scott Carpenter), Annie Get Your Gun (Mordgan Day), Guys and Dolls (Chris Peterson and Brenda Forrest), Music Man (James Robinson) and Oliver!(David Mikuliak).
Musically, the show ranged from traditional grandiose musical type music, to soul, pop, sultry jazz and even opera later in the show. All of the performers were dressed in elaborate costumes for their performances.
Juran Greene who has performed with LMT as well as New West Theatre and sings in local funk/ disco/ R and B band Hippodrome, opened the show with a powerful version of “Free At Last” from Big River.
David Mukluk brought the house down by the end of the first set by revisiting his performance of “Reviewing the Situation” from Oliver! from a few years ago, which drew the most of the audiences applause as he sat on the edge of the stage during one of the more introspective parts of the song.
New West Theatre’s Scott Carpenter added some humour to the evening with his rendition of “ Where Is The Life That Late I Led,” from Kiss Me Kate.
If the first half of the show celebrated Lethbridge Musical Theatre’s past, the second half explored the possibilities for the future.
They began with Scott Carpenter, David Mikuliak, James Robinson and Darrell Croft began the second half with a barbershop quartet version of Lida Rose from the Music Man, after a peek at “Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors, who rushed and tripped on stage to help take care of 50-50 draw business. The quartet announced the winners of the silent auctions.
Jan Jelley poured a whole lot of soul into “I Know Where I’ve been” from Hairspray after business had been taken care of.
After an oily lounge lizard performance of Cabaret from New West Theatre veteran, Jeff Carlson, Sheena Lawson brought back the humour with a longer gospel number “Holier than Thou.”
Then it was a peek into the future of a couple of shows Lethbridge Musical Theatre could consider for the future. Cole Fetting and Monique Prusky sang a ’60s pop style duet “Suddenly Seymour” from “Little Shop of Horror.”
That was followed by Chris Peterson, (who performed a duet in the first set with Brenda Forrest “Marry the Man Today” from Guys and Dolls), singing the solo number “Defying Gravity” from current Broadway hit Wicked. Megan Wittig added some opera to the evening with “10 Minutes Ago” from the musical Cinderella.
Monique Prusky returned to wind down the show with a sexy, sultry and jazzy “ All That Jazz ” from the musical Chicago. And the cast returned to abruptly end the show with “Another Op’nin” Another Show.”
Lights On Broadway continues tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $25.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
