By Tom Nissley
In collaboration with Norwalk’s Crystal Community Theatre, the Town Players have opened a new season at the Powerhouse Theatre with a sparkling production of Roger Bean’s The Marvelous Wonderettes.
The musical tells the story of a girls’ singing group at Springfield High who got their chance to sing at the Senior Prom in 1958 when the boys group (the Chipmunks) lost a singer to a virus, so they couldn’t perform. Along came the Wonderettes, best friends and sometimes not best friends, but a singing team. The night of the Prom we learn a lot about them – who’s in love with the lighting guy, that two of them are chasing after the same boy, that they respect the French teacher and adore the Shop Teacher, Mr. Lee, who they pull onto the stage after selecting a handsome man from the front row of the audience.
After a break they’re no longer at the Prom but at a Reunion of their class in 1968. Things have changed. Missy – now married to the lighting guy – is demonstrably pregnant. The others are in various stages of relationships, one with Mr. Lee, who gets pulled onto the stage again to present a glitzy ring to his now girlfriend.
The show was beautifully done and implies good things for the Town Players 2024—2025 season, which continues with Kate Hamill’s Dracula in mid October.
In other venues you can still see a remarkable and energetic production of And then there were None at Curtain Call’s Dressing Room Theatre in Stamford, and a stunning production of Terrence McNally’s Master Class at the Music Theatre of Connecticut on Route 1 in Norwalk.
Master Class is based on the life and loves of Maria Callas, a prima donna of the Opera world. It’s got great flashbacks of Callas singing at La Scala and other great stages, and stars Irene Glezos as Callas.
These are the best of the best in our area this month.
Tom Nissley, for the Ridgelea Reports on Theatre.
