It was a Saturday night, a brisk chill in
the air, but seated inside Stage West Theatre the ambiance was hot. Summer In the City – A Musical Revue – opened with a flash of
colour and a melange of svelte, energetic singers belting the tune of the
show’s namesake.
The revue takes us back to camping trips
with our parents, guitar jams in our high school hallways and memorable karaoke
nights with heart thumping hits we all know and treasure. From The Lovin’
Spoonful to The Monkeys, The Turtles, Spanky & The Gang, Neil Young and
Steppenwolf. Note: songs and order are subject to change depending on the night
you attend.
An added bonus, amid all of the zappy
tracks and Footloose-like dance choreography (choreographed by the esteemed
Jeff Dimitrou who lists several Warner Bros and Epitome Pictures under his
credit belt including Season 1 of So You
Think You Can Dance Canada and Degrassi)
we get a historical lesson with a Canadian focus. Do you know who in the Mamas
in the Papas was pals with Canadian folk rock artists? Find out in Act one.
I also learned that Procol Harum recorded Whiter Shade of Pale with the Edmonton
Symphonic Orchestra, and that the brave, bold ballad One Tin Soldier was first recorded by the Canadian pop group
Original Caste in 1969. The song is a parable that speaks against using
religion as an excuse for prejudice and greed. It reached No. 1 in Canada and
Skeeter Davis’s go at it in 1972 earned her a nomination for Best Female
Country Vocal.
Though for many of the cast members, Summer In The City was their Stage West
debut, yet every one of them looked perfectly comfortable performing. Every note
was in place and sung with gusto and power. Maybe a little too much power. Some
long notes came out hard through the PA, but that sounded more like an audio
flaw – not in any way reflective of the talent of the cast. There were numbers
that came out a little rough (I didn’t believe the Mamas and Papas renditions
however was mesmerized by the Peter, Paul and Mary trio) but spunk and energy
was never lacking.
The show touts arguably one of the best
stage directors in the country; if not continent. Randy Johnson co-wrote and
directed the one-man show Mike Tyson –
The Undisputed Truth which premiered at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in April,
as well as One Night with Janis Joplin
which premiered in May, 2011 in Portland, Oregon.
Summer
In The City marks Johnson’s return to Stage West
after two decades away. His last feat with the Calgarian dinner theatre was Leader of the Pack.
Show times start at 7:45pm most days of the
week with an earlier evening performance on Sunday and brunch shows Sunday and
Wednesday at 12:15pm. Saturdays the theatre also offers a 12:30pm kid’s show.
Grab your boyfriend, your mom or even your grandmom, and head down Blackfoot to
Stage West for some warm flashbacks and equally satisfying prime rib! The
box office is open seven days a week, or visit their website for tickets.