The Broadway Ferret

Image from www.rogerbean.com

Rating: 4 out of 5 masks

When I heard about yet another musical featuring songs from the 50s and 60s, I have to admit I was excited.  The last show I saw, which I can’t remember right now (I know it played at the Julia Miles Theatre), was really good.  Granted not all shows that feature some of your favorite songs are good, but what’s the worse that can happen?  It’s most likely more cheaper than going to a concert and if you’re lucky has a good story to tell.

The Marvelous Wonderettes takes place in 1958 at the Springfield High School prom.  The act that was supposed to perform dropped out, leaving four girls who call themselves “The Marvelous Wonderettes”, to perform in their place.  The four girls sorta represent the typical teen archetypes, at least for that period of time.  There’s the pretty/bitchy one who adores the spotlight, the ditzy one who always the optimist, the hardworking one who for awhile is in the pretty/bitchy one’s shadow and the nerd who gives new meaning to the term “teacher’s pet”.

What I found interesting is that the storyline is expressed through both dialogue and song.  In between the songs, you learn more about the girls and how they interact with each other.   Sometimes the songs are used as part of the dialogue, sometimes cleverly.  I get the sense that the show was built up around the songs, especially since some of the names mentioned onstage matched the songs they sang. 

What I loved most about this show was that it didn’t take place entirely at the prom.  The second act takes place at the graduating class’ ten year reunion.  You really get to see the difference between the girls at 18 and then at 28.  There are more costume changes during the second act than the first since the girls are filling in what happened to them during the ten years since the prom.

I really liked the set, which is made to look like a gym with prom decorations amongst banners displaying the school’s achievements.  I thought it was really cool that the decorations extended into the house and lobby.  It really helps to bring you into the environment of the show.

Overall, I thought the show was really good, though I may be biased as I loved the songs featured.  I liked the characters and how they were three-dimensional and not just the typical stock characters.  What I loved the most about the show was the audience interaction.  I won’t give it away, because you have to see it for yourself.  Trust me.

Running time: About 2 hours long, with one 10mins intermission