WELK’S ‘WONDERETTES’ SINGS WITH CHARM
“The Marvelous Wonderettes” was immersive theater before that was trendy. What else would you call it when the audience is recruited to vote for who should be crowned the Springfield High prom queen?
The candidates are four school song leaders who’ve formed a girl group and are performing at the 1958 prom because the glee club’s Billy Ray Patton got suspended for smoking behind the gym. These singing Marvelous Wonderettes are Cindy Lou Huffington, Betty Jean Reynolds, Missy Miller and Suzy Simpson. (A fifth candidate for prom queen, Judy Carter, “the girl with the mole,” couldn’t make the big dance.)
If the result of the vote is preordained, no matter. The small-town backstories of the four Wonderettes make each candidate worth rooting for. Wrap the festivities in hit tunes from the ’50s and ’60s and it’s no surprise that this jukebox musical comedy has been popular for more than 20 years.
The Theatre at the Welk’s current production of this show has a longtime Wonderette at the helm. Bets Malone, who originated the role of Suzy in 1999 at Milwaukee Rep and reprised it in both L.A. and New York, knows this show created by Roger Bean (“Forever Plaid”)
backwards and forward. At the Welk, she’s both director and choreographer. It shows. “The Marvelous Wonderettes” is swiftly paced and its 30 musical numbers are seamlessly designed.
There are those jukebox musicals that are soundtracks come to life and nothing more. “The Marvelous Wonderettes” takes care to ensure that each of the principals has her own unique personality and problems (mostly in the romance department). They’re even identifiable by the colors each one wears.
Suzy (Megan Carmitchel) is sweet on the unseen Ritchie, who operates the lights in the gym on Prom Night. Seriousminded Missy (Alessa Neeck) has a secret crush on a teacher. Betty Jean (Chelsea Franko) is P.O.’d:
Her boyfriend Johnny’s been swiped by the sexy man-magnet Cindy Lou (Ariella Kvashny). The relationships and rivalries are expressed not only in comic interplay but when each steps out front in various musical numbers.
Betty Jean’s fickle beau is busted when Franko goes full Connie Francis with “Lipstick On Your Collar.” Kvashny counters with the boasting R&B number “Lucky Lips.” Carmitchel’s Suzy revels in being gaga over Ritchie with “Stupid Cupid,” another smash for Connie Francis. Missy yearns for that older teacher with “Mr. Lee,” “Born Too Late” and “Teacher’s Pet.”
The second act is set 10 years later. The crinoline skirts of ’58 are replaced by the mini-skirts and go-go boots of ’68 (Janet Pitcher is the show’s costume designer)
and the songs include the more contemporary “Wedding Bell Blues,” “Son Of A Preacher Man” and “Rescue Me.” The Wonderettes are reunited and a little scarred by life since high school. But relax, Springfield Chipmunks. Friendship and maybe love will win out.
The Welk’s Wonderettes are an engaging foursome. Vocally, Kvashny is soulful and Neeck handles the high notes with aplomb. Carmitchel in Act One charms like a Debbie Reynolds with bubble gum and Franko demonstrates keen comic timing.
If someday the pop songs of the ’50s and ’60s are regarded as mere novelties, radio relics unknown to the podcast generation, the Marvelous Wonderettes will probably still be around making them relevant on Prom Nights in Springfield, USA.