By jeanette M. eng
Staff Writer
CHRIS KELLY Playing Elvis-like rock star Conrad Birdie, E.J. Marotta rehearses a scene from the Marlboro Players’ production of Bye, Bye Birdie. Show dates at the Marlboro Middle School, Route 520, Marlboro, are May 9, 10 & 16 at 8 p.m. and May 11 & 18 at 2 p.m.
MARLBORO — A man yells angrily into the phone, slams it down and moans that he needs an aspirin. Minutes later, his girlfriend is singing dreamily, "An English teacher is really someone. How proud I’d be if you had become one."
The man is Albert Peterson, a down-and-out agent in the music business, and the woman is Rosie DeLeon, his sweetheart and feisty secretary, the play is Bye, Bye Birdie, a Broadway hit inspired by the hysteria surrounding Elvis Presley’s induction into the army and the place is Marlboro Middle School.
The Marlboro Players will present Bye, Bye Birdie at the Marlboro Middle School, Route 520 between Gordons Corner and Wyncrest roads, Marlboro. Show dates are May 9, 10 and16 at 8 p.m. and May 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. A special Mother’s Day performance will present every mother with a gift at the door. Tickets are on sale at Cards for Less in Marlboro Plaza, Route 9 north. Tickets for adults are $14 in advance; children and seniors are $12 in advance. At the door, add $2 to each ticket. All seats are reserved. For more information, call (732) 972-7217 or email [email protected].
"People that can’t spend $100 for a Broadway show can come here and get a great second choice," said director Donna Ogle.
With a cast ranging from age 6 to 60, Ogle said the talent of her cast and crew is what has kept her inspired and what will make the show "wonderful."
Having been a member of the Marlboro Players for 18 years and having directed five shows, Ogle had strong ideas about what she wanted to present this year.
"Our nation is in a tough place right now and I wanted something upbeat, something that was happy all the way through," the director said.
The early 1960s rock-and-roll theme of Bye, Bye Birdie seemed to fit the bill in a category that combined elements of romance, comedy and musicals.
The show’s script is infused with many of Ogle’s personal touches. For example, a sexy dance number will be performed behind a backlit curtain in order to create the mystery of a silhouette.
Ogle has also prepared a Power Point presentation of 1960s themes for the intermission. Another distinction in this production will be the presence of the cast throughout the audience.
"I use the entire theater and have people walking in the audience," Ogle said, explaining how enthusiastic her daughter was when, in a production of Cats, one of the cats pulled her into its lap. "It’s important that the audience feels like a part of the production."
Bye, Bye Birdie traces the shock waves that a drafted rock ’n’ roll star, Conrad Birdie (E.J. Marotta, Jackson), creates when he comes to a small town to kiss adoring fan Kim McAfee (Perri Goldstein, Marlboro) good-bye on national TV. Much to the horror of his agent Albert Peterson (Gene DeMaoi, Middletown), an attempt to get some publicity to get rich and marry his sweetheart Rosie DeLeon (Robbin Friedell, Marlboro), gets into motion.
Rosie hopes Conrad will sing a song composed by her sweetheart Albert, enabling him to finally break free of his domineering mother (Enid Bush, Manalapan). Albert makes arrangements for Conrad to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show, where he will give his last kiss as a civilian to Kim.
Hugo (Troy Lipp, Marlboro), Kim’s boyfriend, is less than pleased about the spotlighted embrace and so are Kim’s parents Mr. MacAfee (Ricky Selterman, Manalapan) and Mrs. MacAfee (Kim Fry, Freehold), at least until they are invited to be on the Sullivan show too. Kim’s younger brother Randolph (Jake Shatsky, Marlboro), completes the entanglement and antics as only a 1960s style smash hit can do.
Also taking the stage are Ursula (Jamian Berkal, Manalapan), Gloria Rasputin (Nancy Bolotsky, Manalapan), The Mayor (Rich Greenberg, Marlboro), the mayor’s wife (Susan Kaufman, Marlboro), Maude (Chris Guell, Old Bridge), Harvey Johnson (Jordon Firestein, Marlboro) and Mr. Johnson (Mark Shatsky, Marlboro).
Goldstein, 16, who has been with the Marlboro Players for five years, said this show is one of the most enjoyable to perform.
"Every scene is fun and it’s not a hard show to do," she said.
Marotta, who has been performing for as long as he can remember, only joined the production company this year, but has, to his delight, landed the lead.
"Conrad is really egotistical, like a typical rock star, but it’s not that hard to do. The hardest part is wearing this costume," he said as he tugged at his gold sequined bodysuit.
Friedell, donning a black wig that is dramatically different from her red locks, said she feels much closer to the straight-laced, conservative character of Rosie than she did before.
The single mother of three joined the Marlboro Players six years ago, but has relished every moment and said her participation is a "dream come true."
"Singing and performing have always been among my biggest passions and when I’m up there I feel like I’m in another world," Friedell said.
DeMaio, who plays the straight man in a cast of humorous characters, enjoys the dance numbers and slapstick comedy moments that make Albert a lot of fun. This is his second show with the Marlboro Players, although he has been involved with community theatre for 10 years.
All of the cast members, however, agreed that one of the best things about the show is the support of the cast.
"The cast is large, but everybody gets along and is very supportive of one another," said Friedell, noting the bonding experience that the show has become.
"The people have been great," Marotta said. "We were like a family right away.