THE BASICS: SISTERS OF SWING: THE ANDREWS SISTERS MUSICAL closes out Musicalfare’s 25th season by bringing back one of their most popular shows with a brand new cast. Featuring a small ensemble (three women, two men, with small combo) you get a full evening’s entertainment with 24 songs presented in two acts through August 9: Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7, Fridays at 8, Saturdays at 4 & 8, Sundays at 2 at Musicalfare Theatre, 4380 Main Street, on the Daemen College campus in Amherst (839-8540). Run time under 2-1/2 hours with one 15 minute intermission. The lounge area and fully stocked bar are favorites among the locals.
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: This “jukebox musical” (think BUDDY-THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, JERSEY BOYS, or MAMMA MIA) presents the public and private lives of the Andrews Sisters – real life sisters, Laverne, Maxine known as “Maxene,” and Patricia known as “Patty.” We follow their long career (they are reported to have sold over 75 million records) from their formation around 1925 through the early, grueling days on the road, to entertaining the troops during WWII (“Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”) to their break up and the solo career of the youngest, Patty. It’s a high energy show, both during the musical numbers and the connecting dialogues, with clever use of props and costumes, and a very tight rhythm section.
THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION: First off, major props to the rhythm section – bass and drums – listed as Dave Siegfried and Peggy Scalzo. You can’t swing without a rock solid floor, and we got that and more. They played behind a scrim, slightly visible from time to time. I only wish that at the end they could have had a spotlight during the applause.
The pianist, Philip Farugia, was on stage, and part of the action, playing the sister’s arranger and orchestra leader, Vic Shoen. A little tentative on the keyboard at first (as was Jim Runfola on reed instruments, mostly clarinet) but after a few numbers both he and Runfola settled in.
Niagara University graduate Nicholas Lama is credited with the role of “Everyone Else” and by gosh he is. He plays Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Carmen Miranda (?), a beer hall waitress, booking agent, and many, many more roles. Very funny.
The singing was truly entertaining, especially noteworthy because no three singers can ever quite match the sound of three biological sisters who grew up together. That is not a criticism at all. It’s just a fact of life. Whether it’s biological DNA (“nature”) or social DNA (“nuture”) family vocal groups will always have a unique, unmatchable sound. Additionally, the actual Andrews sisters had three distinct ranges – contralto (a very low and unusually rich voice), mezzo-soprano (a very listenable mid-range), and soprano (for the sparkling high notes). Moving on.
Buffalo favorite Wendy Hall took on the role of Laverne, the oldest (and deepest voiced), who, as all older sisters do, took on the thankless responsibility of keeping her younger siblings (especially the somewhat brash and bratty Patty) in line. Avoiding temptation, meeting deadlines, and constant rehearsing kept the sisters’ career on track, and that was mostly due to Laverne. Hall (no relation) was flawless in her ability to portray that role of the “heavy” and give the audience an appreciation of the Andrews Sisters life on the road, while still being one of the fabulously entertaining trio. Well done.
Michele Marie Roberts plays “Maxene,” the middle child, always in the role of peacemaker, providing the glue (and the soprano voice) for the sisters. We remember her from Sondheim’s ASSASSINS and note that she is a singer who can really act, or she’s an actor who can really sing. Either way, she’s the total package. Another successful Niagara University grad; we can’t wait to see what role she takes on next.
But, as good as everyone else is, and they are good, the real reason to make an effort to get to Musicalfare before August 9 is Renee Landrigan who plays the role of Patty Andrews, the baby, who was only seven when The Andrews Sisters as a singing group was formed. Landrigan has a BFA in Theatre Performance from Niagara University (years after Brother Augustine Towey, C.M. retired they continue to crank out some damn fine actors) and a BA in Mathematics (a girl should always have a Plan B).
Now, she does all the stage stuff right, the singing, the acting, the dancing. But the real reason to go is that her portrayal is about as close as we’ll get today of seeing Bing Crosby on stage. Yes, that’s right. Der Bingle (who actually is a character on stage for one number but that’s not what I’m talking about here). I’m talking about the essence of cool, the man who lived on that knife edge between total commitment to the role and complete ironic detachment. After Crosby came the Rat Pack, the group of men who seemingly wrote the book on cool, but they worked in the shadow of Crosby. And, so as crazy as it sounds, the soul of an American icon, born in 1903, inhabits a 21st century actor, playing a singer born in 1918. I was amazed.
And, sorry to be so historical, but in light of the recent visit to Buffalo fo The Rolling Stones, another reason to go is that the Andrews Sisters figure into the history of Rock’n’Roll. For most people today, their most famous hit is “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” This is probably for two reasons: first, because it was covered successfully by Bette Midler, but second, because boogie-woogie, or “jump blues,” is proto-rock’n’roll. No one will ever agree on which song was the exact moment of the birth of rock, just as no one can agree on which came first, the chicken or the egg. But if rock was the egg, then jump-blues was in the hen house when that egg was laid. And you can see it, before your very eyes, at Musicalfare.
*HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)
ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.
TWO BUFFALOS: Passable, but no great shakes. Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic. Unless you are the sort of person who’s happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.
THREE BUFFALOS: I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater. If you don’t go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.
FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.
FIVE BUFFALOS: Truly superb–a rare rating. Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart. Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you’d be a fool to miss it!