Musical Coterie enjoys Teatime at April program

Forrest City Musical Coterie enjoyed a program called “Teatime,” when members gathered recently at the Forrest City Civic Center.

Carla Nimocks served as program leader. The tables were appropriately decorated for the occasion by Lee O’Banion and other members with teatime setups, and all the women came dressed in hats and wearing gloves.

Susie Jones accompanied the performers on piano in the absence of Janet Duffel.

The Coterie Chorus opened the program with a song not about tea, with Nimocks explaining that since tea is one of her favorite things, the group would sing, “My Favorite Things,” from the 1959 film “The Sound of Music.”

“The chorus sounded great, performing such a lovely song,” said Coterie spokesperson Opal Chapman.

Nimocks then introduced Becky Lawson who sang “A Cup of Tea,” written by Kacey Musgraves, an American singer and songwriter.

“The song is about being okay to love yourself and staying true to oneself regardless of other’s opinions,” said Chapman. “The chorus went something like this, ‘You can’t be everybody’s cup of tea…so might as well just make it how you please.’ Becky did a charming job of putting such feeling into this song.”

The Chorus again stepped up to perform for the group, singing “Tea for Two.”

Chapman explained, “The song was composed and written in 1924 by Youmans and Caesar. It was published in the Chicago pre-Broadway run of musicals titled, ‘No, No, Nanette.’ It hit Broadway in 1925.

“The Chorus did a wonderful rendition of “Tea for Two” with lyrics like ‘tea for two and two for tea or a boy for you, a girl for me, how happy we will be,’” said Chapman. “It was a delightful song and rhythm. Then, Carla surprised us, stepping up with Janet Northcutt and Alice Miller tapping to ‘Tea for Two.’ They were quite good and entertaining.”

Chandler Freligh followed that performance by signing, “When I Take My Sugar to Tea.”

Chapman explained, “In 1937, Nat King Cole started a groundbreaking trio playing, ‘When I Take My Sugar to Tea’ on piano, with Oscar Moore on guitar and Wesley Prince on bass.

“Chandler sang this cheerful, lighthearted song that captures the state of being in love. He sang with confidence and style,” said Chapman.

Nimocks and the Chorus

ended the program with a performance of “Go with a Song in Your Heart.”

“It was a lovely song which was sung in 1929 musical,

‘Spring is Here,’ on Broadway,” said Chapman. “It is a winding, beautiful song of encouraging others to go with a song in your heart.”

Submitted Photo Forrest City Musical Coterie’s April program was called “Teatime,” with Carla Nimocks serving as the program leader. During a Coterie Chorus performance of ‘Tea for Two,’ members, from left, Alice Miller, Janet Northcutt and Nimocks performed a tap dance routine.

Performers during the April Forrest City Musical Coterie meeting are pictured in the photo above. At top right, Chandler Freligh sang ‘When I Take My Sugar to Tea.” At right, Becky Lawson performed ‘A Cup of Tea.’ Below is a picture of the tables at the Civic Center which were appropriately decorated for the occasion.