Drayton Entertainment launched its 25th Anniversary with the musical tribute show Legends of Rock ‘N’ Roll taking centre stage on May 15 at the Drayton Festival Theatre.
Board of directors vice-president Neil Aitchison opened the night with greetings and noted Legends was the 98th production on stage at Drayton Theatre.
President John Green welcomed the audience and introduced artistic director Alex Mustakas as he has over the past 25 years: “Here’s Alex”.
Mustakas dedicated the show to his son Lucas, who recently asked his father, “Dad’s what with the old music?” Mustakas highlighted Drayton Theatre’s success over the past 25 years.
Legends of Rock ‘N’ Roll, the brainchild of Mustakas, revisits songs of some of the world’s greatest musicians. The show is a sequel to the hit, Twist and Shout: The British Invasion, which thrilled audiences in 2014 at Cambridge, Penetanguishene and Grand Bend Theatres.
The show focuses on fictitious TV host Roy Solomon signing off the air after 20 years at SBC Studios from 1955 to 1975. Sheldon Lubliner, played by Michael De Rose, hosted the show and provided comedy breaks throughout the performance. De Rose’s hilarious rendition of Tiny Tim’s Tip Toe Through The Tulips, complete with costume and Tim’s unique singing voice, brought laughter from the audience.
Tina Turner’s Proud Mary headlined act one of the musical. Poodle and mini skirts, polyester dresses, scarves, big hair, jeans, black rimmed glasses and Brylcream dressed up the cast on the sets decorated in “flower power” motif.
Early the first act, the audiences’ toes were tapping and hands were clapping. Sing -a-longs cropped up spontaneously and host Lubliner encouraged audience participation by choosing members of the audience to play the role of Roy Solomon, as well as some American presidents and first ladies. Act one included songs from Chubby Checker, Buddy Holly, Dionne Warwick, The Four Seasons, Sony and Cher, The Beatles, Petula Clark and The Beach Boys. A medley of Monkees music with performers emulating the look of the original Monkees, including Davy Jones’s woolen hat, along with appropriate props and choreography, got a favourable response from the audience.
Act two featured The Turtles, The Tempations, The Supremes, Simon and Garfunkel, Elton John, Abba and Elvis Presley. Bachman- Turner Overdrive, Five Man Electrical Band and the Guess Who were featured as Canadian bands of the 1970s. A medley of Elvis Presley songs closed the show to a standing ovation.
Each of the 14 member cast were given a special moment to shine.
Christine Glen wowed the audience with her rendition of Dusty Springfield’s Son of a Preacher Man and Aretha Franklin’s Respect. Yvan Pedneault’s vocal abilities were outstanding on The Hollies He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother and John Lennon’s Imagine. The Rolling Stones’ Paint It Black was performed brilliantly by Gerrard Everard, whose facial expressions and hair flipping captured the essence of the song. In a duet with Pedneault, the pair nailed Simon and Garfunkel’s, Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Michael Clarke provided great renditions of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Bad Moon Rising and Stevie Wonder’s Superstition. Lee Siegel made the classics Pretty Woman and Mony, Mony sound priceless. Michel LaFleche provided classy performances of Johnny B. Goode and Do You Believe In Magic?
Valerie Stanois’ stage presence was evident in Dionne Warwick’s There’s Always Something There To Remind Me. The boots Laura Mae Nason wore for Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots Are Made For Walking really went the distance. Jennifer Kee’s rendition of Janis Joplin’s Me And Bobby McGee thrilled the audience. The three ladies formed a trio and wowed the crowd with The Supremes Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Baby Love, and Stop In The Name of Love.
Dancers Thomas Colford, Chad McNamara, Kimberly O’Neill and Breanna Willis performed dances from the 20-year period covered by the show. The five-piece live band directed by Michael Lerner hit all the right notes to Robert Foster’s orchestrations and vocal arrangements.
If Legends of Rock ‘N’ Roll’s lead off to Drayton Entertainment’s 25th season is any indication, audiences are sure to be entertained with upcoming performances during the rest of 2015. Legends of Rock ‘N’ Roll runs through June 6. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Drayton Festival Theatre, online at www.draytonfestivaltheatre.com or by calling the box office at 519-638-5555 or toll free 1-855-drayton (372-9866).
