Musical Coterie enjoys Halloween program
Forrest City Musical Coterie met Monday, Oct. 17, for a "Hocus Pocus" program with Halloween night as the theme.
Denny Edwards opened the program, telling members of the fears and scares of a very dark night where children should consider not coming out after dark.
“The night that is scary and causes us to shudder is none other than Halloween night,” said Coterie spokesperson Opal Chapman. “Denny caught us by surprise as she was dressed as a mummy.”
Eddie Fleeman took the stage next, dressed in a black suit and hat. He began singing "Old Black Magic" by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer.
“He captured our hearts as he sang of love as that old black magic,” said Chapman. “Susie Jones played for Mr. Fleeman. Susie came to the mic and began asking us if we remembered ‘It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown,’ which initially was broadcast on Oct. 27, 1966 and preempted ‘My Three Sons.’”
Debbie Capps joined Susie at the piano to perform "The Great Pumpkin Waltz."
“It was a lovely piece, with Debbie on her flute and Susie at the piano, both playing so effortlessly,” said Chapman.
Becky Lawson then took stage as a witch with her wand to sing “The Witches Ball” by Etienne Guay.
She began singing, “Pointy teeth, warty nose, all the witches twirl into the night…”
“Becky acted as well as sang and she was a pleasure to watch and hear,” said Chapman. “Irving Berlin took the stage (our very own Martie Ramsey) who told us Berlin had written ‘Puttin on the Ritz’ in 1929. Harry Richman starred in the musical in 1930 and it was a number one hit. Berlin wrote several hit songs, one called, ‘Alexander's Rag Time,’ which sparked an international dance craze in 1911.
“Martie, as Victor Frankenstein, performed ‘Puttin on the Ritz’ with Alice Miller playing the part of ‘the creature’ Frankenstein. They did a splendid job, it was very entertaining. Susie did a terrific job of playing ‘Puttin on the Ritz’ on the piano,” said Chapman.
Denny took the mic once again telling of this scary man name Macklin.
“He carved up a guy named Jack, giving him his own corncob pipe. Then he drew the shade and put a candle in Jack's skull. The shadows danced with creepy crawling things on the floor,” said Chapman. “It was a hoot, and she did a wonderful job of telling us about Mr. Macklin.
“The act that took the day came next,” said Chapman. “All these wild and scary characters took the stage and danced to the ‘Monster Mash.’ The ‘Monster Mash’ was written by Bobbie "Brois" Pickett. It was great, so entertaining, so exciting to watch. They all were having the time of their lives. It was our very own Martie, Becky, Janet Northcutt, Carla Nimocks, Alice, Denny, Susie and Debbie.
“I wish you could all have seen it,” added Chapman. “What fun we had.”