Bucks County Playhouse gives a nod to the sounds of the ’30s and ’40s in this energetic musical revue.
By: Stuart Duncan
After a summer of soap stars, not all of whom were ready for the disciplines of theater, Bucks County Playhouse has saved the best until next to last. Swing is a musical revue that celebrates the dance and song of Harlem in the 1920s, and includes hits from the ’30s and ’40s, when artists such as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Fats Waller ruled the charts.
And it is a show made to order for super-talented director/choreographer Stephen Casey and a company of 15 all of whom can dance anything from ballet to tap and sing anything from "Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree" to "It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing)."
Don’t look for a plot; it’s not there. But be prepared for about an hour and a half of dynamo energy and the excitement of performances that bring roars of approval with every number, bursts of spontaneous applause, even within numbers, and a hugely satisfying standing ovation at the finale.
The company has a few young newcomers, but for the most part you will know the performers: Tressa McCallister with her stunning show biz voice, sings "I Wish I Were in Love Again" and "Stompin’ At The Savoy." Jill Palena belts out "Cry Me a River" and croons "Skylark." Jordan Brennan returns to Bucks after a short hiatus to join a trio singing "I’ll Be Seeing You" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." Patrick Ludt remembers "All The Things You Are" and later, "I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo." Nicole Stephenson, seen first just a few weeks ago in Beehive, stays over a fortnight longer to sing "Blues in the Night" and to join with perennial Bucks favorite Louis Palena for a pair of tongue-twister knockouts.
And the dancers with the heaving, tossing, wild athletic moves which made swing so popular at the time: Laura Allibone, Nicole Calabrese, Peter Martino, Bobby McGuckin, Heather Morris, Kristen Paulicelli, Sharon Rudda, Ryan Stone and Shane Terry.
As I walked up the aisle after the final curtain, a woman ahead of me, much younger than I, told her escort: "I’m exhausted and all I did was sit there and watch!" Exactly. What a great evening.
Swing continues at Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope, Pa., through Dec. 11. Performances: Thurs. 2, 8 p.m.; Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. 4, 8 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22-$24. For information, call (215) 862-2041. On the Web: www.buckscountyplayhouse.com

