New West Theatre brings good tidings, lots of fun and an Up With People attitude that can’t help to make you smile. They are almost too gleeful to be possible in their winter production of “Tidings,” which is a best of show featuring some beloved classics from previous shows.
While their comedy always makes the show for me, bringing back their Elvis medley, featuring all of the guys plus Erica Hunt singing and dressing like Elvis from all of the different stages of his career from his rockabilly beginnings to his Las Vegas excesses, is worth the price of admission on its own.
Scott Carpenter makes not only the weirdest Elvis dressed in army fatigues and a black toupee, but also sounds the most like him.
Erica Hunt isn’t to be outdone as Elvis though, taking on one of his Las Vegas era appearances.
Mwansa Mwansa’s spine-tingling, arm hair standing rendition of Beyonce’s “Listen” is fantastic, which is definitely a highlight of the show.
Other highlights include Jocelyn Haub singing the Dixie Chicks’ “I’m Not Ready To Make Nice,” though it is a darker toned number which almost sounds out of place in a show which is otherwise which is pure goofy fun.
It doesn’t get any goofier than their humour. There are plenty of one liners, groaners, puns (many of them during a Christmas party themed bit) and beloved characters who make brief appearances like Erica Hunt’s Scottish film critic.
The guys have some goofy fun dressed like valley girl era Cyndi Lauper while singing “Girls Just want to have Fun,” which segues into a good comedy bit about the girls having to pass an intelligence test to get into a nightclub
Scott Carpenter and Jason Poulsen have a long and hilarious bit together as Poulsen steals Carpenter’s drink which leads to a discussion of Carpenter’s very bad day.
Poulsen also shines whole doing his best Michael Jackson dance moves, including a moonwalk, on “Bad.”
Jay Whitehead also has a quite a few funny bits, playing the straight man in most sketches but shines on a bit about checking his voice mail. He does a good job “Monkee-ing” around on “Daydream Believer.
Former performer Kelly Roberts joins the band on guitar for this show and gets to shine on his own during a medley of CCR numbers and takes centre stage to add a beautiful solo on Heart’s “Alone, sung by Jocelyn Haub and Erica Hunt.
“ Tidings” also welcomes back several New West Theatre veterans including the lovely and talented Kathy Zaborsky and Jason Poulsen.
Poulsen has a couple of highlights in the show including a duet with Devon Brayne on “It’s the End of the World As We Know It ( And I feel Fine) and gets to shine on one of his original songs — the pop/ soul stylings of “Right Girl Wrong Time” which features Jocelyn Haub singing beautiful vocal harmonies.
The second set features more religious themed humour, but also has some superb ’50s and ’60s soul.
While I’d like to have heard more of Kathy Zaborsky singing, she shines in several comedy bits and sings a beautiful version of The Exciters’ “Tell Him.” She sings beautifully with the girls on several numbers including “Walking on Broken Glass.”
“Tidings” runs at 8 p.m. each night until Jan 5 except Dec. 23-25 and Jan. 1. There is also a 1 p.m. matinee on Jan. 5 plus an early show, Dec. 31 on New Year’s Eve.
