Classic songs, four-part harmonies and a touch of innocent fun come together in a playful feel-good production filled with frothy entertainment.
Cedar Crest College’s “The Marvelous Wonderettes (Glee Club Edition)” through Sept 29 at the Samuels Theater, Cedar Crest College, 100 College Drive, Allentown, is unapologetically sentimental, drawing on all the familiar loves songs from the 1950s and 1960s is this light-hearted jukebox musical comedy.
Taking place at the fictional Springfield High senior prom, the show is basically a vehicle for the four leads – The Marvelous Wonderettes – to perform a string of hits that take audiences down memory lane. All the high school highlights are there, prom queen, school cheers, a chirpy chipmunk mascot, a pantomimed football game and, of course, graduation.
The Marvelous Wonderettes are the high school songleaders who enthusiastically lead the school glee club.
Betty Jean played by Kyleigh Vicoso is the quick trigger hot head, Cindy Lou, played by Rosie Kramer is the de facto leader who is a bit too smug; Missy, played by Angelina Dries is the overachieving honor student and Suzy, played by Ashlee Wagner, is good-hearted, but not so bright.
There is a slim plot with Vicoso’s Betty Jean and Kramer’s Cindy Lou being competitive both over singing lead parts and a boy, but it’s mostly played for laughs.
Highlights include Kramer as Cindy Lou delivering a lush “Allegheny Moon” and her lead on “Lucky Lips” with the glee club accompanying her with clever paper bag puppets; Vicoso as Betty Jean with her humorous take on “Lipstick on your Collar;” Dries as Missy belting her heartfelt crush on teacher songs as she leads in songs “Mr. Lee” and “Born Too Late” and Wagner as Suzy with her breathless delivery of “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.”
The four women display their four-part harmonies on the show’s more than 30 songs with fun takes on
“Mr.Sandman,” "Lollipop", "Dream Lover", "Stupid Cupid", “Rock Around the Clock,” “Rockin’ Robin,” “Dedicated to the One I Love,” “Sealed With a Kiss,” and more.
There is plenty of audience participation, with two men plucked from the audience to be serenaded on stage, voting for prom queen and singing along with the school alma mater.
The cast which also includes Arlo Guzman, Shayla Simek, Jahniya James, Julianna Mosser, Bethany Wentling, Olivia Giangrandre, Olivia McCarron, Tristan Mannix, Kaedon Fox, Ashly Rodriguez, and Johanna Snyder add the necessary background vocals, as well as a couple spotlight leads. Even David Smith as principal Varney joins the fun at one point.
JoAnn Wilchek Basist’s direction is tight and energetic.
Music director Rebecca Pieper leads the backstage band made up of Pieper and Pat O’Connell on keyboard; Tom Mondeschein on guitar and George Hrab on percussion as they ably back the singers.
Will Morris‘ costumes are colorful and eye catching and Joanellyn Schubert’s choreography evokes perfectly those high school moves.
Tickets are $20 for adults; $15 for seniors and $5 for students.
Performances are 7 p.m. Sept. 26, and 27; and 2 p.m. Sept. 28.
For information, call 610-606-4608, or go to www.cedarcrest.edu